WATCH: USC star JuJu Watkins drops "no excuses" clip with her little friend while working out for 2024-25 season prep

JuJu Watkins is training hard for her upcoming sophomore college season. The USC guard led the Trojans to the Elite Eight last season but will be hoping to claim the title this year.

On Monday, Watkins posted a short clip from her practice session where she encouraged fans and was accompanied by her puppy.

"Guys, there's no excuses. In the gym, I don't care if you are a single mother like me, I don't care. Let 's get to gym and get buckets."

Watkins used the off-season to take care of an issue on her right hand which she has been dealing with since her high school days.

“I was really eager to just work on my left (hand),” Watkins told the Southern California News Group. “So throughout the whole process, I was just telling myself, like, ‘You need to work on your left anyways. So might as well take advantage of the situation.’”

Watkins' trainer, Phil Handy also explained the situation and their goal (via The Orange County Register):

“The biggest thing is, it won’t matter where the defense tries to send her … ‘You try to send me left, send me right, doesn’t matter. I’ll be able to execute and dominate with both hands.’”

JuJu Watkins talks about having Caitlin Clark as her mentor

In her freshman season, JuJu Watkins averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. She was named the National Freshman of the Year and is expected to be the face of the sport in the upcoming season.

Besides her on-court excellence, Watkins was also responsible for reviving the Trojans program and drawing in fans to the Galen Center.

Having already navigated all this for four years, Caitlin Clark offered her help to JuJu Watkins. In an interview with the Associated Press, the sophomore guard was asked about Clark and she said:

“She’s great. Goes to show how good a person she is outside of basketball. To have that kind of mentorship and that relationship with her, it definitely means a lot. She’s had the biggest impact on women’s basketball and being able to see her journey is really inspiring.”

The upcoming season could be taxing for Watkins as she tries to balance her roles. However, it looks like she has all the help she needs to succeed.

What are your predictions for JuJu Watkins and the USC Trojans? Let us know in the comments section below.