Juju Watkins, not Bronny James, is the star at Sierra Canyon High media day
2 years, 2 months ago

Juju Watkins, not Bronny James, is the star at Sierra Canyon High media day

LA Times  

In her lowest point last season, tears welling in her eyes while in a handshake line after a Southern Section Open Division championship loss, Sierra Canyon High’s Juju Watkins turned to her roots. In her opening statement, girls’ basketball coach Alicia Komaki announced the team would open with games Nov. 18 and 19 televised by ESPN before heading out-of-state to continue play, she said with a smirk, “the Juju Watkins senior-year tour.” “What’s the role for Juju this year?” Komaki said, repeating a question asked of her at the podium. The team’s motto this year, Komaki said, is “good to great.” If last year was Watkins’ good, great could mean feats rarely seen before in California prep basketball. “So y’all really know,” Randolph said, “who the big dogs are.” Even with the state title last year, Randolph said, the girls don’t always feel like they get their proper due — the presence of a much-hyped boys’ roster casting a shadow. “I’m like, did y’all win state?” Randolph said of the boys’ team, which lost in the Open Division regional final last year to Corona Centennial.

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History of this topic

USC's Juju Watkins Ready to Take College Torch with Caitlin Clark in WNBA
2 months, 3 weeks ago

USC's Juju Watkins Ready to Take College Torch with Caitlin Clark in WNBA

Associated Press  

USC's Juju Watkins is poised to take the college basketball torch from Caitlin Clark, who has carried the position for the past few years. Watkins, a sophomore, has shown immense potential, leading USC to the Elite Eight last year and being named Preseason Player of the Year. She is also a first-team, All-American selection, setting a national record for a …

Sierra Canyon edges Marymount in girls’ volleyball
3 months ago

Sierra Canyon edges Marymount in girls’ volleyball

LA Times  

Since moving from the Sunshine League to the Mission League in 2014, only once has the Marymount girls’ volleyball team failed to earn at least a share of first place. Hanna McGinest led the way with 16 kills and five digs, Florida A&M-bound Brandi Boston added nine kills and eight blocks, Deavan Antoine-Dillon had six kills and seven blocks, and …

USC’s JuJu Watkins is in the March Madness spotlight ahead of Sweet 16 against Baylor
8 months, 3 weeks ago

USC’s JuJu Watkins is in the March Madness spotlight ahead of Sweet 16 against Baylor

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Ore. — For USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb, the JuJu Watkins phenomenon became plainly evident on a road trip this season when a quick autograph session snowballed. “Just me making the decision to stay home, the great environment that I’m in, my teammates always pushing me to be better, everybody just wants the best for me,” Watkins said. “I think …

USC’s JuJu Watkins brings her own ‘Mamba mentality’ after 51-point game
10 months, 2 weeks ago

USC’s JuJu Watkins brings her own ‘Mamba mentality’ after 51-point game

LA Times  

It’s gotta be the shoes. JuJu Watkins poured in a USC record 51 points against Stanford, torching the Pac-12 leaders with a dizzying array of stepbacks, crossovers and silky jumpers and dancing with defenders in her Kobe “Mambacita” sneakers. Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff texted Gottlieb, a former Cavaliers assistant, in disbelief: “50-ball?” Watkins won social media over the weekend, …

Sierra Canyon rallies from 17-point deficit to defeat No. 1 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame
10 months, 4 weeks ago

Sierra Canyon rallies from 17-point deficit to defeat No. 1 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame

LA Times  

Justin Pippen celebrates with his Sierra Canyon teammates after helping his team rally from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit in an 81-75 victory over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. In a celebrity-filled, sold-out Sierra Canyon gymnasium featuring Bronny James, Scottie Pippen and Mookie Betts sitting courtside, fans were treated to one of the great comebacks of the 2023-24 high school basketball season …

Why USC’s JuJu Watkins is ‘your favorite basketball player’s favorite basketball player’
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Why USC’s JuJu Watkins is ‘your favorite basketball player’s favorite basketball player’

LA Times  

He’s her favorite player. “She’s the next greatest thing in women’s basketball,” James said two days after he watched USC dismantle UC Riverside with Watkins scoring 27 points in 29 minutes. She has pro stars checking on her progress with USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who points out the prodigious 18-year-old is “like your favorite basketball player’s favorite basketball player.” “She …

Who leads women’s college basketball’s freshmen race? JuJu Watkins? Madison Booker?
1 year ago

Who leads women’s college basketball’s freshmen race? JuJu Watkins? Madison Booker?

New York Times  

We’re one-third of the way through the college hoops season and conference play is knocking on the door. And with UConn’s injury issues, four of their top eight players are freshmen, and it seems like one will become that perimeter counterpart to Paige Bueckers at some point. As many names as we’ve listed, it sort of seems as though another …

Bronny James is all smiles while warming up with his USC teammates for the first time since his heart scare before watching Trojans cruise to win
1 year, 1 month ago

Bronny James is all smiles while warming up with his USC teammates for the first time since his heart scare before watching Trojans cruise to win

Daily Mail  

Bronny James warmed up with his USC teammates before a game for the first time this season after suffering a cardiac arrest in July. 'It's awesome having him back and on the team with us and participating with us,' USC guard Kobe Johnson said after the Trojans beat Brown 81-70. Southern California guard Bronny James seemed happy to just be …

A new era for USC women’s basketball: All eyes on JuJu Watkins
1 year, 1 month ago

A new era for USC women’s basketball: All eyes on JuJu Watkins

LA Times  

USC freshman JuJu Watkins waves to the crowd during the Trojan HoopLA event at Galen Center on Oct. 19. “I really do believe this is the start of a different era and perception of USC women’s basketball,” she said. Watkins, who led Sierra Canyon to a Southern Section Open Division title and state title, is just the second Gatorade national …

Juju Watkins says she’s excited as she prepares for her freshman season at USC
1 year, 5 months ago

Juju Watkins says she’s excited as she prepares for her freshman season at USC

LA Times  

Former Sierra Canyon girls’ basketball standout Juju Watkins, a McDonald’s All-American who won the Gatorade national player of the year award last season after averaging 27.3 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists, has been busy this summer preparing for her freshman season at USC. She’s one of the most celebrated female basketball players to enter the college game in years …

LeBron James’ youngest son is transferring, and helping transform his new school
1 year, 6 months ago

LeBron James’ youngest son is transferring, and helping transform his new school

LA Times  

Campbell Hall’s Garver Gym is, by all accounts, an intimate community space. “You can’t get prepared for that … there’s nothing you can do,” Sierra Canyon assistant coach Chris Madden said, “unless you’re in the of it.” When LeBron James moved to Los Angeles in 2018 and sent scouts to Sierra Canyon games to evaluate it as a landing spot …

UCLA’s Amari Bailey is used to the spotlight, but he’s about basketball
1 year, 9 months ago

UCLA’s Amari Bailey is used to the spotlight, but he’s about basketball

New York Times  

SACRAMENTO — The first thing Mick Cronin did was get on the phone with the kid. “Amari Bailey’s recruitment was one of the easiest things I’ve ever done,” Cronin said last week in Sacramento, jovial at the press conference dais. “No, I’m being serious.” Bailey had committed to UCLA early in his high school days, and so he explored his …

Girls’ basketball player of the year: Sierra Canyon’s Juju Watkins, again
1 year, 9 months ago

Girls’ basketball player of the year: Sierra Canyon’s Juju Watkins, again

LA Times  

Perhaps the bun possesses magical powers, sitting calmly atop Juju Watkins’ head like a divine beacon as she steps back for another jumper. It seemed unlikely that the USC commit could take her game to a higher level after a state-championship run last year, and yet she became a more efficient scorer and improved ballhandler as a senior, averaging 27.3 …

Girls’ basketball coach of the year: Stan Delus of Etiwanda
1 year, 9 months ago

Girls’ basketball coach of the year: Stan Delus of Etiwanda

LA Times  

There’s no debate about the girls’ basketball coach of the year when you guide your team to consecutive victories over nationally ranked La Jolla Country Day, Chatsworth Sierra Canyon and San Jose Archbishop Mitty to win the Open Division state championship. That’s what Stan Delus accomplished at Etiwanda to earn The Times’ girls’ basketball coach of the year award. He …

Sierra Canyon loses out on potential crowning moment vs. LeBron James’ alma mater
2 years ago

Sierra Canyon loses out on potential crowning moment vs. LeBron James’ alma mater

LA Times  

Sierra Canyon’s Bronny James, shown her during a game against Crossroads in November, fouled out during the Trailblazers’ loss to St. Vincent-St. Mary on Saturday. It could’ve been a season’s crowning moment if Chatsworth Sierra Canyon put on a show in front of thousands, if it bounced off the Nationwide Arena floor with a jubilant win over LeBron James’ alma …

‘He made his own clone.’ LeBron James’ high school teammates offer thoughts on Bronny
2 years ago

‘He made his own clone.’ LeBron James’ high school teammates offer thoughts on Bronny

LA Times  

The legend began in Ohio youth leagues at the local park, the first iteration of the St. Vincent-St. Mary state-championship “Fab Five” taking shape in the Akron chill. “But there could never be another LeBron James.” “Except,” Travis continued, “he made his own clone.” Fair or not, the question has followed Bronny James ever since he enrolled as a freshman …

Sierra Canyon’s Juju Watkins announces USC as college choice
2 years, 1 month ago

Sierra Canyon’s Juju Watkins announces USC as college choice

LA Times  

Sierra Canyon High star Juju Watkins, the No. Minutes after the Chatsworth Sierra Canyon High star uttered the words that would usher in a new era of USC women’s basketball — “There’s no place like home” — aunt Trescelle Watkins came up to her, showing the photo, asking whether she remembered. Interview with an emotional Juju Watkins on her commitment …

Column: Can any team keep Juju Watkins and Sierra Canyon from another title?
2 years, 1 month ago

Column: Can any team keep Juju Watkins and Sierra Canyon from another title?

LA Times  

Juju Watkins of Sierra Canyon rises in the state Open Division championship game at Golden 1 Center. “It challenges me to play my best game also.” Etiwanda, coming off a 29-1 season, will challenge Sierra Canyon in girls’ basketball. The Eagles defeated Sierra Canyon 69-57 in the Southern Section Open Division finals before losing their only game of the season …

Bronny James shows ‘he is a star’ in dominating Las Vegas tournament game
2 years, 2 months ago

Bronny James shows ‘he is a star’ in dominating Las Vegas tournament game

LA Times  

Bronny James didn’t address reporters at Sierra Canyon High’s media day Wednesday but his actions spoke volumes in a Las Vegas tournament win Friday night when he led the Trail Blazers with 31 points. Nothing would faze Sierra Canyon High’s Bronny James this night. Trailblazers pouring it on now — 59-47. pic.twitter.com/DNuBnUW8Os — Luca Evans October 15, 2022 As trash …

Girls’ basketball player of the year: Juju Watkins of Sierra Canyon
2 years, 9 months ago

Girls’ basketball player of the year: Juju Watkins of Sierra Canyon

LA Times  

Alicia Komaki, the Chatsworth Sierra Canyon High girls’ basketball coach, had an observation about how her talented new transfer student, Juju Watkins, could make herself better. In the final game of the 2021-22 season, Komaki’s vision could be seen on the biggest stage — the Open Division state championship game at Golden 1 Center. “To see that come true is …

Kobe Bryant’s memory looms large for Sierra Canyon’s MacKenly Randolph
3 years ago

Kobe Bryant’s memory looms large for Sierra Canyon’s MacKenly Randolph

LA Times  

Sierra Canyon’s MacKenly Randolph controls the ball during a win over Christ the King at The Chosen-1’s basketball tournament at the Staples Center on Saturday. Sierra Canyon guard Bronny James shoots over Darrian Lewis of St. Vincent-St. Mary during the Chosen-1’s Invitational High School Basketball Showcase at Staples Center on Saturday. ——— Sierra Canyon girls’ coach Alicia Komaki hasn’t talked …

Top girls’ basketball player Juju Watkins leaves Windward for Sierra Canyon
3 years, 5 months ago

Top girls’ basketball player Juju Watkins leaves Windward for Sierra Canyon

LA Times  

Windward’s Juju Watkins has transferred to Sierra Canyon for her junior season. Juju Watkins, considered the top girls’ basketball player in the nation from the class of 2023, has checked out of Windward and enrolled at Sierra Canyon. “It means we got a lot better,” Sierra Canyon girls’ basketball coach Alicia Komaki said Saturday. She joins another former Windward player, …

Sierra Canyon basketball season to be featured in six-part docu-series
3 years, 11 months ago

Sierra Canyon basketball season to be featured in six-part docu-series

LA Times  

Sierra Canyon’s Ziaire Williams, center, celebrates with teammate Amari Bailey, right, and Tookey Wigington after making the game-winning basket in the CIF Open Division regional basketball final game against Etiwanda played at Cal State Northridge on March 10, 2020. The Chatsworth Sierra Canyon basketball program had a Hollywood-like story to tell last season. A film crew followed the team, and …

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