LOS ANGELES — The celebrities were out at the Galen Center as USC hosted its undefeated crosstown rival UCLA in a top-10 showdown. Vanessa and Natalia Bryant were in attendance, as were Flea, Issa Rae, Kevin Hart, and Los Angeles Sparks Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby. Not to mention actor Sanaa Lathan, who JuJu Watkins personally shouted out postgame for her iconic role as a Trojans basketball star in “Love and Basketball.”
No matter how many icons dotted the sidelines, it was Watkins who was the star. The best and brightest in Los Angeles came to see her put on a show, and Watkins delivered.
“It’s really a dream come true,” Watkins said of playing on this stage. “And when you have people like that show up, you can’t disappoint.”
The sophomore finished the night with 38 points, 11 rebounds, and eight blocks in USC’s 71-60 victory. It was her second-highest scoring total of the season (behind her 40 points against California Baptist) and her career-best in blocks. Her previous high was five rejections. She became the first Division I player to post 35 points, 5 blocks and 5 assists in a game in the last 20 seasons.
Entering Thursday’s matchup, Cori Close stumped for her star Lauren Betts as the Big Ten and national Player of the Year, saying, “I really do…
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