It did not take JuJu Watkins long to announce her arrival to the college basketball world.
The No. 1 recruit in women's basketball, Watkins kicked off her USC career with 32 points in a neutral-site win against Ohio State. The rest of her debut season? Much of the same. Watkins averaged 27.1 points while shooting 40.1 percent from the field. The only player who scored or averaged more points than Watkins? Caitlin Clark.
Watkins, a 6-2 guard, scored and averaged more points than Clark did her freshman year. Watkins is a versatile talent who is capable of both out-maneuvering players on her way to the paint and who can score from range. Watkins is also a standout defender who showed rebounding prowess and an ability to force turnovers throughout her freshman season.
There's little doubt Watkins has what it takes to succeed at the next level. Plenty of men's college basketball stars have gone from breakout freshman to star NBA players after only one season in college.
MORE: How does the WNBA Draft work?
Is Watkins going to wind up making the same jump and head to the WNBA after only one collegiate season? Here's what you need to know.
Is JuJu Watkins eligible for the WNBA Draft?
Watkins might be capable of making the jump to the WNBA sooner rather than later, but she is not eligible to do so.
The WNBA states U.S.-based players must be at least 22 years old during the year of the draft to be selected by a team. They also have to renounce future college eligibility or have run out of college eligibility. International players can be drafted when they are at least 20 years old during the year of the draft.
For Watkins, who is 18 and will turn 19 in July, that will mean waiting a few years. She will be draft eligible in 2027, which would be following her senior season.
College basketball fans can rejoice knowing Watkins is going to be playing college hoops for a little while longer.
MORE: Comparing Watkins to Clark's freshman year
JuJu Watkins stats
Watkins had a sensational freshman season for the Trojans.
She has been named the consensus national freshman of the year, won the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year award, earned first-time All-America honors and was named a finalist for the Wooden Award, Honda Award, Naismith Trophy and Dawn Staley Award. And that's just the start of her trophy shelf from her first year.
The overall numbers are eye-popping.
- 27.1 points per game
- 7.3 rebounds per game
- 3.3 assists per game
- 2.3 steals per game
- 1.6 blocks per game
- 40.1% field-goal shooting
- 31.9% 3-point shooting
- 85.2% free-throw shooting
JuJu Watkins vs. Caitlin Clark freshman years
The comparisons between Watkins and Clark are going to be inevitable. Both became immediate stars in their freshman season, averaging at least 26 points per game to rank among the top scorers in the country.
For many, it won't be surprising to see Watkins mentioned as a player who could break Clark's scoring record, particularly given that Watkins already has more points through her freshman year than Clark had.
Here's how the two compared by total numbers and shooting stats:
| JuJu Watkins | Stat | Caitlin Clark |
| 920 | Points | 799 |
| 248 | Rebounds | 177 |
| 112 | Assists | 214 |
| 78 | Steals | 38 |
| 56 | Blocks | 14 |
| 40.1% | Field-goal% | 47.2% |
| 31.9% | 3-point% | 40.6% |
| 85.2% | FT% | 85.8% |