Girls basketball camp held by USC’s Juju Watkins is ‘what basketball should feel like’

LOS ANGELES — Juju Watkins ran through a pair of defenders and tossed up a pass to 10-year-old Kennedy Beyen, who was wide open and easy to find in her hot pink shorts and sneakers.

Beyen heaved the ball up for a layup that sent Watkins, an All-American and Naismith Trophy winner, running in circles. She finished the celebration with a body check against Beyen, who was half her height.

“This is what basketball should feel like,” Watkins told reporters.

Over 150 girls basketball players in grades third through eighth poured into the Galen Center practice court on Sunday afternoon for a day-long basketball camp hosted by Watkins. Volunteer coaches directed campers through drills and scrimmages, but fun was clearly the priority.

The camp was free for all participants, but the opportunity to be on the court with Watkins was priceless.

“She woke up this morning excited,” Ben Beyen said of his daughter, Kennedy. “Usually, on a school day, she’s tired. But this morning she got up bright and early, ate breakfast, and was ready to come. Once she figured out Juju was gonna be here, it was automatic.”

Beyen, who lives in Valley Village, said that Watkins is a natural choice as a role model for his two daughters because of her dedication to school and sports, and her willingness to give back to the community.

Sitting out last season due to an ACL injury amplified those characteristics rather than silenced them.

Nike released LeBron NXXT Gen By Juju “Silver Lining” basketball shoes in partnership with Watkins on May 27, and her motto “don’t move…improve” is sketched on the side. All of the coaches wore her signature shoe in either the silver or red “With Love” colorway at the camp.

“I’m on the other end of my rehab journey, and I’m really grateful,” Watkins said. “At the time when I was creating the shoe, ‘silver lining’ stuck out to me because I just think it’s really important when going through something to know that the grass is greener on the other side. It definitely gave me a lot of perspective and hope.”

Sunday’s preteen campers provided a source of joy, too. They didn’t hesitate to double- or triple-team Watkins as she attempted shots and were playfully fired up whenever she dished out some good-natured teasing.

She then signed every shirt, headband and ball that came her way as the post-camp autograph line stretched across the court.

“The girls coming in, they’re super excited,” Watkins said. “They’re curious. They’re asking questions. I know a lot of them are younger, but it’s really cool to be around such youthful and fun energy.

“Just knowing that they look up to me and they think I’m cool — it’s cool to know that they think I’m cool.”

Watkins, who is cleared to play, will return to the court this season with a loaded roster around her.

Six-foot-1 guard Jazzy Davidson, last season’s USBWA Freshman of the Year, enters her sophomore season after leading the Trojans in every statistical category with 17.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, two steals and two blocks per game.

Kennedy Smith, another 6-foot-1 guard, will also return after averaging 11.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game and three freshmen will join the team as part of the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation — Sitaya Fagan, Saniyah Hall and Sara Okeke.

The Trojans went 31-4 overall last season and fell to NCAA Tournament runner-up South Carolina in the second round of the tournament.

“Just discipline,” Watkins said of what the team needs this season. “Just attacking every day like there’s no tomorrow. I think it’s really essential that we do that. It’s my senior year. So super excited for that and not taking any moment for granted.”