USC Trojans’ JuJu Watkins, Kiki Iriafen Chance To Win Top Player In College Basketball

USC Trojans sophomore guard JuJu Watkins and senior forward Kiki Iriafen have been named to Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Midseason Watch List. Watkins of Iriafen could be the first player in program history to receive the award since Lisa Leslie in 1994.

Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; USC guard JuJu Watkins and USC forward Kiki Iriafen take a question at the podium during the 2024 Big Ten Womenís Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images / Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images

USC Trojans sophomore guard JuJu Watkins and senior forward Kiki Iriafen have been named to Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Midseason Watch List. The award is presented annually to the top player in college basketball. Watkins or Iriafen could be the first player in program history to win college basketball’s most prestigious award since Lisa Leslie in 1994. Former Iowa and current Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark received the honor the last two seasons.

Last season, Watkins earned Freshman of the Year and First Team All-American honors and this year, the Trojans star guard has picked up right where she left off. Watkins is averaging 23.9, 3.5 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.7 blocks points per game. The Los Angeles native has been named Big Ten Player of the Week four times this season and once received Jersey Mike’s Naismith Player of the Week recognition.

Watkins was also recently named to the short list for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. She has the opportunity to be the first player to win the Ann Meyers Drysdale in back-to-back seasons.

Iriafen has been spectacular in her first season in the Cardinal and Gold. The Stanford grad transfer has reached double figures in 22 of the 23 games she has appeared in.

The reigning Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award winner has made big strides under coach Lindsay Gottlieb. Iriafen has set new single game career highs in three-pointers made (2), free throws made (12), assists (6), blocks (3) and steals (3) already this season. She is on the shortlist for the McClain Award again this year.

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Last week, ESPN’s Michael Voepel published a mock draft that had the expansion Golden State Valkyries taking Iriafen with the No. 5 pick in the WNBA Draft. The Los Angeles native would have the opportunity to return to the Bay Area where she played the past three seasons at.

No. 6 USC is coming off a very impressive 84-59 win over No. 8 Ohio State at Galen Center on Saturday, Feb. 8. Iriafen grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds and scored 24 points. It was her eighth game of the season with 20+ points. Three Trojans recorded double-doubles in the victory over the weekend, first time that has happened in a game since 2009.

Feb 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Ajae Petty (1) and USC Trojans forward Kiki Iriafen (44) fight for position during the second quarter at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images / Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

The Trojans head into a highly anticipated showdown against their crosstown rival, No. 1 ranked UCLA. The Bruins bring their perfect 23-0 record to the Galen Center. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. It will be first of two meetings between the two schools over the final five games of the regular season.

“I’m most excited about trying to take down the No. 1 team, undefeated, they’re having a great season,” Iriafen said. “I think it’s super special that they’re also our rivals, so there’s like another trip on our shoulder. But I think it’s super exciting, this is what I came back to LA for, this big rivalry, this big game. I think especially with everything going on with the fire, this is a great time for the LA community to come together and watch some really great basketball.”