Original subtitles

-Hey, happy holidays, everybody.

**

-I'm happy that, you know, I won't miss out on the holidays

and miss out on seeing my family

because I'm staying home at USC.

You have to, like, make your own string to tie to the tree.

I would have paid the extra money for the hooks,

but, you know, next year we'll do that.

[ Cheerful chatter ]

[ Room-filling laughter ]

-Judea comes from two families with such strong women

on both sides, and she has learned

from both sides of the family

how to carry herself.

-My mom has five daughters.

My oldest sister set the tone early on growing up.

Our village sticks together.

[ Dance music playing ]

JuJu's childhood is not really typical,

so we try our best to make sure she doesn't get

overwhelmed with everything.

-It's Connect Four, right? -Yes.

[ Laughter ]

-Oh! She just lost! [ Laughing ] She hit that giddy on her.

-That giddy? [ Laughing ]

-You know, a great opponent,

she thought she had it in the bag,

super confident.

You know, we see those type of stories every time.

Ego up here.

But, you know, I came in very levelheaded.

You know, I knew I had to get the dub, and that's what I did.

Yellow team took a dub. Green team for the "L".

-JuJu!

**

**

**

-Today we're in Watts for my holiday give back event,

and we're gonna be giving out some gear and food

and just hanging out with the community.

Whenever I do, like, brand partnerships

and have conversations about potentially partnering,

I always want to make sure that whatever we do,

it somehow ties back to Watts.

[ Background chatter ]

-That's enough. -You want bread?

-Yeah. Let me have one.

-Aww! -[ Baby speaking ]

-Yes. You like 'em? -No.

Oh, you like 'em?

-Being from Watts, I always root

for other people from Watts.

And I just want to inspire them.

And if that means being here to to kind of provide some hope,

then that's what it is, that's what it has to be.

[ Applause ]

-I just want to say thank you for everybody coming out.

Um, I'm grateful for Nike and my other sponsors

that helped put this together.

But really, this is what it's all about,

just giving back to my community and the inner city.

Um, I know sometimes you feel a little overlooked,

but I'm here to make sure that, um...

-Yes -...that's not the case anymore.

[ Cheers and applause ]

**

- The birthplace of basketball. Springfield, Massachusetts,

where it's number two, Sidwell Friends,

taking on number three, Sierra Canyon,

to kick-off the Hoophall Classic.

-My pregame ritual is...

I usually just get my bun done

and then maybe watch a little film.

-[ Laughing ]

Bro, like I -- the fact that everybody's gonna know

that my mom does my hair after this, like,

I'm gonna get so much backlash.

So I'm -- listen. This is all I'mma say,

I'm working on it. I'm trying to get it like that.

She-She -- This woman has 18 years of experience,

so please... relax. Chill on me for a second.

-Would you think that

number 11 upsets number 1?

What is the -- What is the main, like --

What is the scouting report on them --

the team you're going...

-Well, I mean, you're gonna go.

-How is that gonna happen?

-Well, she don't shoot threes.

-Pregame routine and strategy

is 100% based on implementing all the work

you're working on when the spotlight's not on you.

-They just looking to grab rebounds, right?

-Yeah. She rebounds really good.

She has like -- She averages like eight offensive rebounds.

She'll usually ask me, like, "Okay, like, what did you plan?

Like, what's your quota for today?"

And then we'll talk strategy about the other team.

So it's just a moment to be intentional about the game.

And then Crystal gonna guard Kendall.

-I don't know why she be trying to block every shot though,

you already know.

-They might actually come out pressing, them.

-I know they gonna come out pressing.

**

- Must-watch matchup here before us.

- Sidwell Friends, the national champions

last year at 30 and 0.

-The Sidwell game is going to be one

of the most exciting games

this country has seen for girls basketball

at the high school level in a really long time.

And if we win this game, we're going to be

number one in the country.

-I grew up playing around Jaden Donovan,

Kendall, and Leo Harmon.

They're definitely dogs,

and we just have to match that intensity.

**

Coach has never had the number one team in the country,

but that is my number one goal,

just beating the number one team.

[ Whistle blows ]

-It's exciting to see the game grow right in front of our eyes.

- Dropping in early on from JuJu Watkins...

-One thing that you can't teach with sports is somebody

that trains and takes the training into the game.

I love creating something and seeing the after effects like,

wow, we worked on that move.

**

**

[ Whistle blows ]

-Watkins is heading out of the game.

She's limping. Something with her left leg.

- An injury has removed her from this game,

but you can see the entire package of what she brings

to the table and what the Trailblazers are missing.

-The hardest thing playing through injuries,

especially with the ankle,

is, like, it takes a good ten minutes

until the adrenaline kicks back in.

But once you're in it, it's really all or nothing.

-* Only one of us can have the ball *

* Ghost time when we in the zone *

- She's been such a warrior battling through.

Gets another rebound and then she goes down

in a heap again.

[ Indistinct announcement ]

-I remember going to the bench and just like,

"Damn, I gotta get back. I gotta get back."

I knew that, like, if we were gonna win,

I had to be in, like, I had to be in this game.

-Nothing was gonna stop her from getting back out there.

-* Ain't no back to back 'bout to dub that *

-I'm telling you, I've never seen somebody twist

both ankles at separate times

in a game and come out and just kill.

-* Let's go, let's get it *

* Let's go, let's get it *

* Let's go, let's get it *

* Where the ring? Time to bring it home *

-JuJu just wants to win so badly.

She's the type of player who's gonna

push beyond all reasonable limits

because she thinks that the win is her responsibility.

-She lives and dies basketball.

Like, you can tell this is her soul.

* Let's get it, let's go, let's get it *

* Where the ring? Time to bring it home *

* Where the ring? Time to bring it home *

* Where the ring? Time to bring it home *

* Where the ring? Time to bring it home *

-We got the "W."

She's just... a dog.

She's not gonna shy away from something she really wants.

[ Cheers and applause ]

-I just remember how much I wanted that game.

Like, how much I wanted to win.

And then that end one just kind of solidified it.

Like, I just felt on top of the world right now.

-Hi, JuJu. How are you? - JuJu. Nice to meet you.

-How important is the hair?

-It's everything, you know.

The hair holds the power.

-Okay. That's the quote. There we go.

-I know I'm gonna have a good game

when my bun is perfect, so that's all I got.

-Okay, what goes into the bun though, like pregame?

-I can't. -Mm.

-I can't tell. -There's a secret sauce there.

-How are your ankles?

-They're...surviving.

-Hoophall's kind of been, like, historically

a male-dominated tournament.

What does it mean to you and your team

to rewrite that narrative fuel?

-Our goal, as women, is to break barriers.

So, that's what we came out here to do today.

-Even though JuJu's young,

she realizes that the spotlight is on her.

She's done, you know, things that 1% of female hoopers

get to do in their high school careers.

She's just no way gonna waste an opportunity

to help expand the game.

**

-I saw you in the elevator last night.

I commentated your game.

Um, can we do a quick interview real quick?

Is that cool? -Yeah, yeah.

-God bless you.

-I thought you just said he was gonna dunk on me, bro.

-I could.

-Alright, everybody, get in.

-Alright.

-I'm short, I'm short, watch out.

**

-A lot of people still look at basketball

as a male-dominated sport.

**

-There's a dynasty in the WNBA.

The Houston Comets have won

their third straight championship.

-What's she gonna do? She dunked it!

For the first time in WNBA history!

-Winning, when you do it with a group,

never gets old.

-I realize how far the women's game has come,

but there's so much more to go.

**

-With JuJu's commitment to USC.

she's taken on a whole different meaning of iconic.

She's going to represent her university

and the community of Watts, and so it's more

than just basketball now.

-Nice to meet you.

More than anything right now,

I'm looking towards the future,

not only where I go,

but how far the game will go as well.

**

**

-Senior night's a way to celebrate the seniors

during one of their last home games.

It's a little bittersweet, but very excited.

[ Teammates cheering ]

-We're gonna miss the seniors.

That's like half of the team leaving.

-I think that her going to Sierra Canyon was something

that helped her open up.

I'm a very like, shutoff person, introverted.

I don't really make friends easily.

I think this is something that's hard to find,

and I'm just enjoying it as much as I can for this last year.

Okay, I know we're super excited,

but we have to focus because we have a lot to do.

-We gotta do scouting report first.

Number 25, fire player.

Number 20 is a good crafty point guard, high-IQ playmaker.

She can score, she can get the team going.

Number four, JuJu, wing player,

attack mode, downhill, likes to finish at the basket.

Keys today --

Rebound and run.

JuJu rebound,

you guys run. [ Team laughs ]

Alright, here's your video.

[ Team cheering ]

-Hey, seniors, it's Kristy.

-Thank you guys for all the good memories.

-I wish you good luck in the future.

-I love y'all so much. Y'all's my girls.

And for real.

I'm gonna miss y'all so much.

Love you all and wish y'all come back to this

[ indistinct ].

[ Team cheering and applauding ]

-Let's go. -[ Whistle blows ]

-She's ready to expand her wings,

go to college, do her own thing.

It's a bittersweet thing for me because, like,

she don't eat me like she used to need me.

You hang on to the youngest kid,

and you want that feeling to last really forever.

She's just independent, you know.

[ Crowd and teammates cheering and applauding ]

-It's a village that has raised Judea.

-While we've all played a part in her upbringing,

anything that has been done thus far has been Judea.

**

Don't tell her we said that, though. -No.

-Here, let me -- -Ohh!

-As good a basketball player as she is,

she is equally a good person.

[ Crowd cheering ]

*

-High school went by so fast.

Senior night is definitely a bittersweet moment.

It was just a great experience and...

I want to finish my senior year strong,

win a championship.

That's really all that matters.

**

[ Rap song plays ]

**

**

-We try not to say there was a scripted plan,

but because JuJu had just set a personal best

the game before actually -- she had 45.

It was like, alright, you know,

I'm gonna let everybody else do their thing

and maybe I'll set an assist record.

* I'mma do my thing *

And then we found ourselves down in the first quarter

and then the second quarter, and then it was just go time.

-When everything is clicking on the court...

it's the best feeling, honestly.

It's such a high.

You just feel like all your work is -- is paying off.

*

[ Buzzer sounds ]

[ Whistle blows ]

**

-Just my experience throughout high school

has just been whatever I can do to help the team win.

I'm -- I'm all in.

Going into it, I didn't even want to score that much.

But, I just think, you know, I just couldn't deny it.

It's just an undeniable game.

-That's pretty much it!

**

-My shot was hot, everything was falling in.

**

[ Whistle blows ]

I don't know, just, God had other plans that night.

**

[ Buzzer sounds ]

-Good job, JuJu!

Good job, Judea!

[ Crowd cheering ]

-60 points.

Mmm...light work!

-She was balling and she was saying she was tired.

I'm like, "Tired where, sis?"

-Yeah, go this way and come down off the light.

-Okay.

-Hey, "Access", it's JuJu Watkins.

Come with me to get ready for prom.

Prom definitely started to make me realize that,

you know, things were coming to an end.

-Okay, so when you're answering questions,

you can just look at me.

We're off-camera.

**

-What's going on, guys? So today is prom day.

Stepping outside of my comfort zone.

**

I don't usually get this dressed up,

and my hair is definitely not in a bun,

so, like, I feel like a grown up version of myself.

-So what does tonight like, mean for you?

I mean, obviously everyone always looks forward to their prom.

What are you feeling?

-I'm just excited to, you know,

pop out a little bit, 'cause I'm usually always in, like,

sweats and a hoodie.

We might go to the after party.

-Oh, there's a afterparty?I

-I don't have a curfew tonight.

Eight months ago, I had a curfew. [ Chuckles ]

-So what time you coming home?

-So I'm not coming home tonight.

-What? -No, I'm playing, um...

[ Laughter ]

-Oh, my gosh.

-I'll be -- I'll...

-Okay.

-Okay, "Access", I'm gonna put my dress on,

so I'll see you guys later.

-Perfect!

-JuJu is such a tomboy, hooper, right?

But she's a lady -- don't get it twisted.

Everybody's jaw is gonna hit the floor when they see her.

-* Walk into a room turnin' heads *

* No time for games, all about the business *

* Cause I'm a real baddie *

* Kicking my way to the top, let me through *

* I'm the cream of the crop, so just move *

-We are at JuJu's senior champagne party, okay?

-For y'all uncultured LA people

who don't know what a champagne party is,

it's a prom gathering.

Family gets together,

take pictures, eat food.

Everybody that's of age can drink champagne.

And then you go to prom. It's like a send-off.

-Hi.

I guess you could say that.

-* But you're too busy making advances *

* Grab the bull by the horns and set the truth *

* Don't worry, nobody's gon' be mad at you *

* Can you handle a real one, can you fight this too? *

* And all the fake ones 'bout to get the boot *

-I've just seen her become more of an adult.

You know, you can tell she's preparing

for the next level in all aspects.

To me, this is like her walking off into the sunset

on to the next journey, which is college,

taking the training wheels off.

-For me, being a senior in high school,

like, it went by so quick.

I just kind of have those, like, really reflective moments.

I think it just makes you kind of ground yourself

and realize how far you've come.

Just feeling super grateful for everything.

**