The USC Trojans women’s basketball team has found a standout player in Judea Skies “JuJu” Watkins. She has already made a big impact with her strong defense, forcing turnovers, and proving to be one of the most reliable scorers on the team. Watkins is versatile, playing both as a point guard and a shooting guard, making her an essential part of the squad.
Who Are JuJu Watkins’ Parents?
JuJu Watkins is the daughter of Robert Neal-Watkins and Sari Watkins, both of whom were college athletes. They are also known to be friends with LeBron James and Savannah James.
Mother: Sari Watkins
Sari Watkins was a track and field athlete during her college days. Initially, she and her husband wanted JuJu to play tennis, but when JuJu expressed her desire to pursue basketball, Sari told her to fully commit to the game if she was serious about it.
Father: Robert Neal-Watkins
Robert Neal-Watkins was a college football player. When JuJu was 12 years old, he started coaching her in basketball in their backyard.
Talking about his daughter, Robert said that JuJu was always a quick learner and wasn’t afraid to take risks while training. Even after winning gold medals at international levels, JuJu continues to train with her father, who helps her with shooting and ball-handling skills.
What Is the Nationality of JuJu Watkins’ Parents?
JuJu Watkins’ parents, Robert Neal-Watkins and Sari Watkins, live in Los Angeles, California, USA. They are American by nationality and African-American by ethnicity.
JuJu Watkins’ Biography
JuJu Watkins grew up in Los Angeles, California, and attended Windward School and Sierra Canyon School. She was ranked as the No. 1 recruit in her class by ESPN and was named National High School Player of the Year in her senior season at Sierra Canyon.
In her first season at USC, Watkins became a unanimous first-team All-American and won the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. She also set the NCAA Division I freshman scoring record and was recognized as the National Freshman of the Year.
Early Life & Career
JuJu Watkins started playing basketball at just seven years old in a local park league. She trained with former NBA assistant coach Phil Handy and admired Arike Ogunbowale’s playing style.
As a freshman at Windward School in Los Angeles, she averaged 21 points and 9 rebounds per game, leading her team to the CIF Southern Section Open Division final. Her outstanding performance earned her the Los Angeles Times Player of the Year award. In 2020, she was also named SportsKid of the Year by Sports Illustrated Kids.
In her sophomore year, Watkins improved further, averaging 27 points and 12 rebounds per game. Before her junior season, she transferred to Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles. That year, she led her team to the Open Division state championship, finishing with a 30–2 record. After averaging 25 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, she was named California Gatorade Player of the Year and Ms. Basketball.
As a senior, she continued to dominate, averaging 27.3 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. She helped Sierra Canyon win another CIF Southern Section Open Division title, finishing with a 31–1 record. On senior night, she scored a career-high 60 points, the second-highest in area history. Her impressive season earned her Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, and back-to-back Ms. Basketball and California Gatorade Player of the Year honors. She also shined in the McDonald’s All-American Game and Nike Hoop Summit.