JuJu Watkins set to break NCAA record for USC women's basketball

Two years into her college career for the USC women's basketball team, JuJu Watkins aims to win a national title for her team. The guard has always pursued team goals and accomplishments over individual feats, sometimes not even being aware of personal spotlights that she has earned. This, however, doesn't stop fans from enjoying her milestones while being in awe of her play.

Coming into this year's NCAA tournament, Watkins will only need 79 points to eclipse the two-year mark set by Kelsey Mitchell. At the conclusion of the former Ohio State player's season, the OSU guard had scored 1,762 points. The current Trojan sits at 1,662. 

Averaging 24.6 points per game this year, Watkins surpassing this sophomore pace is well within reach. This is particularly true if she goes off on a scoring tear like what basketball fans know she is capable of. Against top-seeded UCLA, for example, the Naismith Women's Player of the Year semifinalist has played the Bruins three times already. In those contests, she scored 38, 30, and 29 points, respectively. A deep run would help to reset Mitchell's threshold. 

As USC fans in particular will know, however, a Sweet 16 appearance alone would probably give Watkins enough games to claim the number one spot here. Not that this benchmark would be her focus anyway. As stated, her genuine focus tends to be on team success. While speaking with NBC's Natalie Esquire, the second-year player addressed the overall meaning of this 'pursuit' as well as an award she hadn't even been aware of.

On Her Turf, a podcast show on the network that focuses on women's sports, and especially basketball during this time of year, Esquire interviewed Watkins to ask her about potentially making history. The LA native offered this response to potentially overtaking Mitchell:

"I always have pride in anything that I do and get noticed for. I don't take that for granted... When it comes to sports, I think the main goal is winning, and everything else will follow. That's something that I really believe in."

While listening to Watkins' answer, it becomes clear that the magnitude and her place in the history of college hoops mean a lot to her. For a superstar playing for one of the top programs in the nation, she also offers measured insight and reactions for being at the pinnacle of her craft as an underclassman.

Championship focus for USC women's basketball

During the interview, it took Esquire telling her that she was also a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year as well. In today's social media age, it can be hard to be disconnected enough for a lot of athletes to be able to focus on what ultimately matters. 

Fittingly, Watkins reacted by mentioning how the staff would likely address some areas of improvement on that end of the floor. It is this healthy approach that bodes well for Watkins, not just for this tourney run, but for the rest of her career. USC has a certified star talent with a strong drive to truly be great. The record will be broken soon, but that will only be a stepping stone for Watkins in pursuit of the ultimate accomplishment.