JuJu Watkins Biography: Age, Parents, Height, Net Worth, Career Stats, College, Awards

Judea Skies “JuJu” Watkins, known as JuJu Watkins, is an American college basketball player for the USC Trojans in the Big Ten Conference. She gained widespread recognition as a top-tier guard, breaking the NCAA Division I freshman scoring record with 920 points in the 2023-24 season.

A Los Angeles native, Watkins has revitalized USC’s women’s basketball program, leading the team to consecutive Elite Eight appearances and earning unanimous first-team All-American honors.

Profile

• Full Name: Judea Skies Watkins
• Stage Name: JuJu Watkins
• Born: July 15, 2005
• Age: 19 years old
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: College Basketball Player
• Height: 1.88 m
• Parents: Sari Watkins, Robert Neal-Watkins
• Siblings: Mali Watkins, Dami Watkins, Mar Watkins
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $1.5 million

Early Life and Education

Judea Skies “JuJu” Watkins was born on July 15, 2005, in Los Angeles, California. Raised by her parents, Sari Watkins and Robert Neal-Watkins, she grew up in the Watts neighborhood alongside her three siblings: Mali, Dami, and Mar.

Watkins attended Windward School before transferring to Sierra Canyon School, where she excelled as a basketball star and honor student. Her ethnicity is African-American, and her religion is Christianity.

Specific details about her academic achievements beyond being an honor student are not publicly documented.

Career

Watkins began her basketball career at age seven in a Los Angeles park league, quickly showcasing her talent. At Windward School, she averaged 21 points and nine rebounds as a freshman, earning the Los Angeles Times Player of the Year award.

Transferring to Sierra Canyon School, she led her team to a 30–2 record and the CIF Southern Section Open Division title as a junior. Her senior year saw her average 27.3 points and 13.8 rebounds, culminating in the Gatorade National Player of the Year and Naismith Prep Player of the Year awards.

She committed to USC in November 2022, choosing to stay in her hometown.

Watkins’ freshman season at USC in 2023-24 was historic, as she set the NCAA Division I freshman scoring record with 920 points, including a 51-point game against Stanford, the highest single-game total by any player that season. She averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, ranking second nationally in scoring.

Watkins led USC to the Elite Eight, earning the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award as the nation’s top shooting guard and unanimous first-team All-American honors from the AP, USBWA, and WBCA. She also won two gold medals with the U.S. at the 2021 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship and 2022 FIBA Under-17 World Cup, where she was named MVP.

In her sophomore year, Watkins continued to dominate, averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, while leading USC to the Big Ten regular-season title in 2025. She was named AP Player of the Year, the fourth sophomore to receive the honor, and won the Wooden Award and Naismith National Player of the Year.

However, her season was cut short by a season-ending ACL injury during the NCAA Tournament’s second round against Mississippi State. Despite the setback, Watkins remains a transformative figure for USC, with her resilience and community involvement inspiring fans and teammates alike.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @jujubball

Personal Life

Watkins is single and has no spouse or children. She maintains a private personal life, focusing on her basketball career and community involvement.

Net Worth

Watkins has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million USD. Her wealth primarily comes from lucrative Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, including a major shoe endorsement with Nike and partnerships with United Airlines, Gatorade, and State Farm.