.avif){kind=logo}
Time stretches, swells and finds its place wherever it goes. It waits for no one, even as our eyes, hopes and dreams look toward what’s next. With every passing second, the moment draws closer, until time and anticipation finally meet.
The preparation it takes to get here is written all over the trio of JuJu Watkins, Jazzy Davidson and Saniyah Hall. Three players on different journeys but on the same path, looking to etch their names into USC history. Sitting in practice, one thing is clear: this era of Trojans basketball is going to be one that keeps you hooked. Every pass, every shot and every defensive possession will have heads turning to see just how special this group can be.
“We chose to come here to SC to build something great and win a national championship, which hasn't been done in a long time here,” Watkins says.
The waiting isn’t over. With every passing day, the work continues. Trusting the process and pushing forward because the moment is almost here.
It’s been over 500 days since we last saw JuJu in a Trojans jersey. The greatness of 2025 JuJu is in the history books. Pure hoops. Jab step, cross, pull-up middy. Automatic. This year, we get to see Watkins step back on the court and reintroduce herself to the world. Late nights in the gym, tedious hours watching and rewatching film, practicing movements and, above all, reminding herself who she is. After a long road back, she’s ready. “To be back, to have such a great team and be so excited about coming to do basketball every day, it's really just a blessing,” Watkins says.
Nothing worth keeping is rushed, and nothing worth winning is done alone.
Reigning National Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson has had a journey of her own, navigating last season by learning as she went. She found herself in moments that called to lean into the pressure, towering over expectations while staying grounded in patience and determination. Her will to win, refusal to settle and drive to be the best were on full display. Now, with Watkins back on the court and a new season ahead, Davidson is part of a trio looking to take USC to another level.
Then there’s the long-awaited arrival of Saniyah Hall, the newest Trojan and another force in her own right. Iron sharpens iron, and here, where the Trojan sword is forged, the real work gets done. Hall joins a group with its eyes set on the same goal, ready to put in the work that winning demands.
Time can feel still and quiet, but don’t mistake the calm for what’s coming. Sitting in practice, watching this group learn with every play and talk through every moment after each whistle, something stands out: discipline.
“We have all the talent. We have the iron sharpens iron thing. We can simulate really hard games in practice,” Davidson says.
In a room full of bucket-getters, the focus never strays from the bigger picture. There is no room for ego, pride or selfishness. What you see is togetherness, a group so in sync that it feels as if the room moves as one. Every dribble, look, screen and cut comes with communication.
It’s only been a few weeks since the team came together, but they already move as one. Building a team capable of being the best starts with knowing the people beside you, understanding what they bring to the floor and trusting them to do it. “I was a big fan of them. So when they were really considering it, I did whatever I could to get them to come here,” Watkins says. “But I think as I've gotten to know them more, they're just winners. They're great teammates.”
Over the sounds of balls bouncing and shots swishing through the net, you can hear the calls: “Here!” “I got you!” “Watch!” The details matter, and each player seems to understand her role.
They see each other, understand each other and, most importantly, love each other’s games. During their interview, the three stars were asked what they would take from each other’s games. The answers went beyond the obvious, revealing the kind of respect that comes from knowing the details of how other players see and feel through the game.
JuJu talks about Jazzy’s signature fadeaway and Saniyah’s “very elite” footwork.
“I love their games,” Watkins says. “So for me, when I'm watching, it's like, Damn, that's a tough shot. That's a tough move. And so it's like, OK, let me add that to my bag. Stuff like that. So I'm picking apart their games to see how I can get better.”
Saniyah looks over her shoulder at her vets as she talks through her takes, like being able to drive and finish in the lane like JuJu. Meanwhile, Jazzy hypes up JuJu’s finishing abilities, pointing out her ability to take on two, three and sometimes four defenders without a sweat.
“Saniyah, I feel like she has a really high release point on her shot. And I would take that, because that's a really hard skill,” Davidson says.
The level of detail shows you just how much this group loves the game. These aren't just compliments traded between teammates. They're acknowledgments of the work that goes into becoming great. When one No. 1 recognizes another’s footwork, shot mechanics, endurance or ability to finish, it’s recognizing the details that separate a good player from a special one.
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb sees the same thing in her trio. “They are true hoopers. They love the game,” she says. With their versatility and ability to command space, Gottlieb believes they can create opportunities for themselves and everyone around them.
And that togetherness doesn't stop when the whistle blows.
Before the SLAM 265 cover shoot began, Hall was teaching Watkins a TikTok dance, while Davidson watched and laughed as they restarted over and over again. For a moment, it was less about basketball and more about the three enjoying the moment together. Then came the call to gather the group. A nod, a shared look and it was time to work.
That same accountability carries beyond the court. As Davidson explains, “How you do anything is how you do everything. So I think we all push each other off the court as well, whether it be in the weight room or rehab or even class. We all hold each other accountable.”
Looking through old SLAM covers, the trio revisited the groups that had taken over the game and the culture before them. They read the coverlines aloud. “Ready or Not... Here They Come!” “Y’all Ain’t Ready!” “Can’t Knock the Hustle.” And one that hit a little closer to home: “Rock L.A. Familia.” An ode to California basketball and the generations who helped shape it. Now, it's time for a new age to show why it's their turn.
The legacy of USC basketball isn’t one you can miss. Sitting in the practice facility with the banners of past championships, you can feel the push from legends to all who dare to wear the jersey today. The legacies of Cheryl Miller, Cynthia Cooper, Tina Thompson, the McGee twins and Lisa Leslie fill this room.
“I feel like we're carrying that on in our own ways,” Davidson says. “Honoring people that were here before us is super important to not only us, but our entire team. And yeah, very grateful to be here.”
A few giggles fill the room as Jazzy, JuJu and Saniyah talk through the nostalgia of those covers. But once the three No. 1 recruits step in front of the camera, their competitiveness comes right back. The same drive that fuels them on the court was channeled toward their creative direction behind the camera. From poses and lighting to strategizing how to capture the best shot, the trio brought communication, trust and teamwork to every frame.
Gottlieb had three words to describe the identity she wants this team to embody: “Competitive, showtime and transcendent.”
That’s exactly what we see. Every 10 to 15 frames, the trio huddles to talk through what to change, hype each other up, then burst into laughter after catching an unexpected moment on camera. Just as quickly, they lock back in to find their best shots.
Even away from the court, the message remained the same: teamwork. The three ask questions about everything, from the setup and tone of the shoot to how each frame would come together. They are invested in the process, not just the final product. The same communication that carried them through practice followed them onto set.
“When I first came here and we started practicing, I felt like it just automatically clicked. Everybody was on the same level of, Oh, we’re taking this serious,” Hall says. “It’s not something to just play around with. We actually want to reach our goals, so we’re going to take it serious.”
As the shoot went on and the conversation quieted, the chemistry was no longer something they had to explain. It was right there in the frames, in the laughter between takes and in the way they kept pushing one another to get the shot.
“There's a lot of room for improvement with us, but I think the intention is there. And that's really all you could ask for,” Watkins says. “People want to be better and push each other to be better. So I think the ceiling is really high for us.”
The moment it came together, everyone in the room knew it. A loud “ooooooo” from Saniyah. A “That's really good” from Jazzy. JuJu breaking into a dance. A quick double take to make sure they all agreed and then the group hugged to solidify that the shot was perfect.
There was a moment in the interview when the three players look at each other as if it had finally sunk in that they had made it. A vet in JuJu making her return to the place she loves most, Jazzy finding her voice and rhythm, and Saniyah raising the torch to continue ushering in the next generation. This group knows why they’re here and what’s important.
“If you want to win more than anything, you'll do whatever it takes. And I feel like all of us, we're not selfish at all.” Saniyah says.
The goal isn’t just for now, but for the future. The legacy must continue.
Watkins glanced at the banners up above and looked at Davidson and Hall.
“I think we're building culture so that even when we leave, SC is still the place to be.”
SHOP COLLECTION