Juju Watkins Parents: Who are Sari and Robert Neal-Watkins?
Juju Watkins is a talented basketball player who won the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award in 2023 and joined the USC Trojans team. Juju Watkins’ parents, Sari and Robert Neal-Watkins, played a big role in their daughter’s success. In this article, you will learn what you need to know about Juju Watkins’ parents.
How Did Juju Watkins Parents Meet?
Sari and Robert Neal-Watkins met while playing basketball in college. Sari played at California State University, and Robert played at Loyola Marymount University. Neither of them went pro, but they passed on their love of basketball to their children. Sari and Robert got married in 1995 and had four children. Juju is the youngest child in the family.
How Did Juju Watkins Parents Support Their Daughter?
Sari and Robert Neal-Watkins did not want their daughter to play basketball. Their plan was for Juju to play tennis and become a professional like the Williams sisters. But Juju insisted on playing basketball and her parents respected her decision. Juju started playing basketball at the age of seven and barely played in her first year. But she did not give up and asked her father to make her a better player. Robert started teaching his daughter basketball in the backyard and Juju quickly applied his instructions to the game. Juju told ESPN:
“I realized I was good when I was 12. Also, I saw the results of my work and got a hint of how far basketball could take me.”
Sari said the secret of her daughter’s rapid improvement was consistency:
“Be consistent in life. Because when she wanted to be serious, we put a lot of energy into helping her. This was a priority for us.”
Are Juju Watkins Parents Bothered by Her Fame?
Juju Watkins became a more popular player with every point she scored. In middle school, fans came to her after the games to take pictures with her. Juju used this as a motivation to improve her game:
“I took this as more fuel to go further and played in a way that would affect people knowing my name and what I do.”
Sari Watkins said she was not bothered by her daughter’s fame, but rather proud of her. She also emphasized that her daughter was down-to-earth and cared about her education. Robert Watkins said his daughter had other interests besides basketball, such as making music.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Juju Watkins Parents
What Do Juju Watkins Parents Do?
Sari Watkins is an education consultant. Robert Neal-Watkins is a sports manager.
Where Do Juju Watkins Parents Live?
Sari and Robert Neal-Watkins live in the Watts neighborhood of California. This is where Juju’s grandfather Ted Watkins Sr. was known as a civil rights activist. Ted Watkins Sr. founded the Watts Labor Community Action Committee in 1965, in response to the Watts riots, to provide jobs and social services. Juju trained basketball in a gym named after her grandfather.
Are Juju Watkins Parents Friends with LeBron James?
Yes, Sari and Robert Neal-Watkins are friends with LeBron James and his wife Savannah James. LeBron and Savannah follow Juju’s basketball career closely and support her. Juju went to the same high school, Sierra Canyon, as LeBron’s son Bronny James and went to the same college, USC. Juju and Bronny will play together on the USC Trojans team.
