JuJu Watkins is holding busy in absentia after getting an invitation to partake in Crew USA’s first pre-2028 Olympic camp.
Yogi Berra as soon as remarked that one may “observe rather a lot by simply watching.” JuJu Watkins and america’ girls’s nationwide basketball crew actually hope that rings true this vacation season.
Watkins crossed coasts over the weekend to participate in Crew USA coaching camp at Cameron Indoor Stadium on the campus of Duke College, the squad’s first step on the multi-pronged journey to the 2028 Summer season Olympics in her hometown of Los Angeles. The College of Southern California rep was considered one of two lively collegiate stars within the “younger and turnt” core alongside fellow Pacific hopeful Lauren Betts, however continued rehab from a torn ACL suffered within the final NCAA Event has pressured Watkins to look at from the sidelines.
“It was positively like a pinch-me second, even all the best way again to once I received the invite,” Watkins mentioned of her Crew USA expertise. “I’ve dreamt of being part of this ambiance. To see that really form of come true, in a way, and seeing that I’m headed towards the best path is unquestionably satisfying, simply when it comes to how a lot work I put in to be right here.”
“It’s tremendous particular to be again, reunited once more, and for her to only absorb every part,” fellow first-time senior membership participant and fellow USC alumna Kiki Iriafen famous. “However she’s a fantastic spirit, and we are able to’t watch for her to be prepared and again on the ground.”
Watkins didn’t deliver a pocket book to Durham, however reported that her early immersion into the voices and tradition of the briefly revamped Crew USA program has helped fulfill the purpose of “osmosis” set forth by star-spangled legend and newly-minted managing director Sue Chicken.
“I feel there’s a lot to study,” Watkins continued. “It’s solely my first day, so it’s laborious to form of say every part, however I feel, simply from an observing standpoint, simply the eye to element, the management, the communication, it’s unmatched, and positively one thing that I can get higher at and might proceed to provide to develop.”
JuJu Watkins nonetheless taking part in a serious function for @USCWBB 💯 pic.twitter.com/cxkxPVfWtv
— FOX Faculty Hoops (@CBBonFOX) November 16, 2025
Kara Lawson Explains JuJu Watkins’ Significance at Crew USA Camp
Although Durham is understood for its raucous spectators, Watkins wasn’t going to let the spirit of the Cameron Crazies affect her. The LA native, having beforehand starred at Windward College and Sierra Canyon within the Metropolis of Angels, was mentioned to have taken on a little bit of a verbal function within the early going, participating in a number of post-practice discourses with new head coach Kara Lawson.
The hardwood information that Watkins has displayed at 20, Lawson hinted, made it downright important for Watkins to partake in absentia.
“We needed her right here,” Lawson firmly declared. “You’ll be able to see that there’s quite a lot of expertise there, and that’s anyone that’s going to be within the dialog, clearly, sooner or later. We had been actually intentional about inviting her right here and having her be part of it. I feel there’s nice worth in having her observe and be across the group, after which simply the connectivity, like to decide on one other one I hadn’t spent any time with.
“My plan is to have a dialog together with her daily as a result of I don’t get to be together with her on the court docket,” Lawson mentioned additional. “I’m not going to share every part that we talked about and that between us, but it surely’s about her rising from this and in addition like being impressed and motivated by this. You get on this setting, and there’s a bodily response to it. For those who’re somebody that loves the sport like she loves it, you need to be on the market, sure, however you’re impressed by, like, seeing the extent that a few of these gamers are at, and also you need to get to that and also you need to be out right here.”
Watkins Provides an Harm Replace
Taking within the antics of basketball royalty in one of many recreation’s widely-accepted cathedrals afforded Watkins a second of reflection. The would-be junior mentioned she postpone her determination to sit down out all the 2025-26 season “as a lot as attainable,” however finally opted to be an educating observer as soon as once more. That has allowed her to regulate her “love” of present Trojan headliner Jazzy Davidson, whom Watkins lauded as a “nice pupil of the sport.”
Paige Bueckers on JuJu Watkins’ restoration from her torn ACL. #TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/hcH7K4tiFF
— Chicago State of Thoughts Sports activities (@ChiStateOfMind_) December 12, 2025
All that and extra, together with the yr’s end result of Crew USA’s camp invite, has allowed Watkins to keep up a demeanor as shiny because the SoCal solar again residence, even when her present on-court work primarily consists of “choosing up the ball a bit of extra” 9 months after the damage.
“It’s what it’s. I simply needed to come to phrases with form of the place I used to be at,” Watkins mentioned. “[The injury] sucked, however every part occurs for a cause … It feels nice to be right here, surrounded by a variety of nice basketball, a variety of nice gamers and nice individuals. I’m so comfortable to be right here.
“It’s all the time been a dream of mine to be on this ambiance, so to form of reside out these desires, despite the fact that it appears a bit of totally different, I’m nonetheless blessed to be right here and comfortable.”
Sans Watkins, USC (7-3), made its approach to sixteenth place in the newest nationwide ballot. The Trojans proceed their Watkins-less tour on Thursday after they host Cal Poly (7 p.m. PT, Huge Ten Plus).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
