Subscribe
Follow Us
Both Cooper Flagg and JuJu Watkins continue to make NCAA basketball headlines, as both players won their respective Wooden Awards.
For Duke basketball, Flagg had a historic season with his squad. As a freshman, he racked up multiple awards. Some of those include ACC Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and becoming an All-American.
Furthermore, Flagg was recently named the AP Player of the Year earlier in the week.
On the flip side, Watkins shined in her sophomore season. Most recently, Watkins took home the Naismith Women's College Player of the Year. That achievement alone was beyond impressive, but the Wooden Award makes things even sweeter.
The Blue Devils will prepare for the Final Four against Houston on Saturday. Meanwhile, USC women's basketball was eliminated after Watkins tore her ACL.
They were eventually eliminated by UConn, showing how valuable the sophomore guard was, and is to her team. As both players rack up the awards, it goes to show how elite they are.
The USC guard burst onto the scene last season, helping the Trojans to an Elite Eight. In Flagg's case, he helped the Blue Devils head to the Final Four for the first time since 2022.
Cooper Flagg, and JuJu Watkins headline Wooden Awards
Both players had competition for the award, but it wasn't necessarily close. One of the most interesting things about Flagg and Watkins was their consistency.
While both might've struggled in some games, there was never a rough stretch for either player. Flagg and Watkins were always at the top of their games and showed out when the lights were brightest.
Funny enough, Flagg sprained his ankle during the ACC tournament. However, he came back roughly a week later and is now heading to the Final Four.
Unfortunately for the USC star, her season was cut short due to that ACL tear. Before that though, the Trojans were looking to head to the Final Four. They were even predicted by some to win the national championship.
Either way, both players are respective stars in their sports. They have the skills, charisma, and love of their teammates and coaches. Although the individual success is great, they have been even better teammates.
While the Wooden Award might not matter in the grand scheme of things to Flagg or Watkins, it is still impressive. For them being underclassmen and dominating is beyond impressive.
Although Flagg is likely to commit to the 2025 NBA Draft, Watkins is projected to stay. Who knows? She might win another Wooden Award once she is fully healthy.
