JuJu Watkins, 19, is juggling the full-court pressure of a college program with a high-profile basketball career that could very well turn pro in just a few years. But Watkins wasn’t breaking a sweat. In fact, she’s eager to add another proverbial ball to the mix.
“I actually wanted to learn to play guitar, and then I had a season and now I’m starting to do different things,” she told Can be mixed and matched While in town attending an event hosted by Meta AI. There, she told the New York crowd that she hopes aspiring athletes will use the tool to access resources like training plans. As for herself, “Maybe I could ask Meta AI where to start [with guitar],” she said, noting that her guitar really needs a little love. “It’s in my living room, but it’s just a decoration now.
Read on to learn more about Watkins’ favorite apps, ways to unwind off the court, and her summer side missions.
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I watched some of your highlights last night. The clean “whoosh” of the ball going through the net over and over again is like ASMR.
Yes! I feel the same way.
Do you listen to ASMR? Or is there a similar sound that can calm you down?
I don’t watch ASMR, but I love stress balls. I use them while studying.
You will be a sophomore at USC. How is school?
The school is great. I recently took a feminist theory course and it was crazy. I’ve actually taken two classes so far and it’s cool to learn about the different theories and it’s also cool to learn about the history and how they fit together. Now I’m moving towards a communications major.
I noticed there were several bear bricks in the room photo you posted on Instagram. Are you a collector?
As I was collecting them I thought, “Why am I spending so much money on these?” So unless I see one that I really can’t live without, I won’t buy it. But it was my hobby for a few months. I have Michael Jackson, Joker and Basquiat.
Honestly, I think I go through a lot of phases when it comes to collecting. And then I think, why am I doing this? However, I think sneakers will always be in my collection. I never seem to get tired of it. Now I have them stored in a shoebox and I have to fix it. I had to go to the container store and buy something more aesthetically pleasing, like a clear acrylic box.
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I noticed you do a lot of work in photography, how about that? Your Morgan and Morgan ads are actually iconic.
This is absolutely crazy. I honestly thought this was like a side quest. I’m just doing things and slowly getting better at them. Sometimes I get a little nervous because it’s a little outside of my comfort zone.
For example, Morgan and Morgan like to “show off their personality” [laughs], Try to be weird” or whatever. That’s always the awkward part when they give you a certain emotion and you try to replicate it. When I’m like, “I’m not going to do that,” it’s like, “Okay, I have a show.
In March, basketball superstar Cheryl Miller asked you if you’d found “your space” amid all the pressure of your career, and you said no. Has anything changed since then?
I think, just in the offseason, I definitely got better. During the season, it can be a bit much. But after the season, you can take a deep breath and relax. You dawdle, and then you’re on vacation. I think this is the cycle of life. But I had a great time. I recently took my first vacation. I went to Mexico for a few days and did some shopping. But I love Los Angeles, so that was a vacation in itself.
You’re from Watts, a USC girl. How do you feel about New York?
[Laughs] It’s not my favorite. You serve delicious food, which I always appreciate. I don’t know, maybe it’s a little too much. It’s a bit busy for me. I like peace and quiet. And the weather which I just can’t stand. But honestly I feel like I haven’t really had a chance to really explore it yet, so maybe if I explored it more I would enjoy it.
In another post on Instagram, you included this quote: “What you think of me is not my responsibility to live up to.”
[Laughs] Everyone thinks this is so esoteric and I just discovered it on Pinterest and I love it.
Are you a Pinterest girl?
I am! I’m a Pinterest girl. I use it to find inspiration, tattoos, interior design for how I want to decorate my apartment.
I also use Instagram a lot. Whenever I have cute photos, I post them. But to be honest, I’m not like a fanatic [poster], I just want to keep my fans engaged and try to show a little bit of my personality. I was cool about it.
I also use Snapchat. [My team is] Social media frees me from my inhibitions. She follows me everywhere [laughs, pointing at a team member] Content, that’s how we do Snapchat.
I like TikTok. Whenever I feel cold, I roll. I usually find emerging artists this way, like this artist named Skaiwater. Kaytranada dropped an album that I really like in terms of what I’m listening to right now. I guess I’m usually in a quicker mood because it’s summer.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
