Caitlin Clark has managed to create waves while she was still with the Iowa Hawkeyes and now that she has reached the WNBA, the bar has only risen. Hence after Clark, expectations are high for the NCAA as well. To meet those expectations, Rich Paul already has a name to suggest. But this isn’t just a random pick. In fact, Paul has checked off all three traits that assure the USC star holds a promising future.

“She touches all the elements,” Rich Paul said, via the Gil’s Arena podcast. As per Paul, Watkins possesses all the elements that make her a good player and the first trait that he points out is how “hardworking” she is. Watkins is working hard to improve her skills as a player. And the recent viral video on the internet is a testament to that. Watkins was seen dribbling and attempting shots with her submissive left hand.

Moving on, Paul disclosed another trait of hers: “She’s appreciative…I texted her the other day. She hit me right back. ‘Thank you,’” Paul shared his personal experience and further remarked how these things go a long way.

For those unaware, JuJu Watkins is just 18 years old and is already helping people with financial literacy, gaining education, and, above all, inspiring young girls. Watkins actively reaches out to the community with the help of Good JuJu Holiday Giveback in partnership with Nike and Finish. It’s her family’s non-profit that donates sneakers, and t-shirts to local children’s basketball teams.

“She’s attentive,” Paul further unveiled her final trait. “I’ve been to meetings… She’s asking questions. She’s not making it only about her. She’s trying to understand, and she’s willing to listen,” he highlighted from his observations. This shows that Watkins’ attentiveness extends beyond the court and that she is an inquisitive individual.

But the question here is: is Rich Paul right in stating that Watkins has a promising future?

A look into the skill set of the “Most influential basketball player for the future”‘

The USC star, at 18, is already reigning in the NCAA world. This season she scored an impressive 27.1 points, 3.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds. But this is just a glimpse of her achievements. She’s the all-time leader in scoring in her first year. Notably, Watkins accomplished all these stats despite being on a team whose journey ended earlier than expected.

USC’s basketball team was knocked out of the tournament by the UConn Huskies in the Elite Eight with a score of 80-72. “Her experience of playing a great team and losing is going to help her the following year. I embrace it all,” Rich Paul added. Apart from Watkins’ collegiate success, she also features the Los Angeles Times Girls Basketball Player of the Year award and an MVP title.

Additionally, she has also been the first female athlete out of high school to sign a deal with Klutch Sports Group in 2022. All these stats undoubtedly state that Juju Watkins is moving in the right direction. What do you think? Is Juju Watkins a future WNBA star?

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.