Even though both the USC men’s and women’s basketball teams suffered defeats in their most recent games, the future is bright for the Trojans
Even though both the USC men’s and women’s basketball teams suffered defeats in their most recent games, the future is bright for the Trojans.
USC men’s hoops signee Isaiah Collier and USC women’s basketball signee Juju Watkins have both won the Naismith High School Player of the Year award, given annually to the most outstanding high school basketball player in the country. The honors were announced on Friday.
Collier is a point guard who plays for Wheeler in Marietta, Ga. As 247Sports.com’s No. 1 rated recruit in the country, Collier has led his team to the semifinals of the AAAAAAA playoffs in Georgia.
Watkins has dominated the competition pushing her Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) team to a 30-0 record and Division 1 CIF Southern Section championship so far in her senior year. Sierra Canyon is three wins away from a state championship as well. Like Collier, Watkins is also the No. 1 rated player in her high school class.
“Juju and Isaiah’s exceptional performances throughout the season have earned them the achievement of Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Player of the Year,” executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club Eric Oberman said in a release. “We are thrilled to honor them with this recognition and wish them all the best as they advance to the next level in their basketball careers at the University of Southern California. Their outstanding achievements on the court are a testament to their extraordinary talent and hard work.”
“With both committed to USC, Watkins and Collier become the first winners of the award to go on to play collegiately at the same university,” the release continues. “Watkins will follow in the footsteps of the trophy’s 1990 winner Lisa Leslie, who also played for USC and claimed the 1994 Jersey Mike’s Naismith College Player of the Year Trophy as a Trojan.”
