Jerzy Robinson and JuJu Watkins Set for Sierra Canyon Reunion as South Carolina Faces Southern Cal / sportsearchers.com

The contest, billed as “The Real SC,” carries an additional storyline because both players developed their skills under former Sierra Canyon High School head coach Alicia Komaki in Los Angeles.

With Robinson now beginning her college career at South Carolina and Watkins leading Southern Cal following her return from injury, the matchup offers an opportunity to see two former high school teammates compete on one of the biggest stages in women’s basketball.

The game is scheduled for Sunday, November 15, at 1 p.m. ET at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. ABC will televise the contest nationally.

Alicia Komaki Reflects on Two of Sierra Canyon’s Finest Players

During her nearly 15 seasons leading Sierra Canyon’s girls basketball program, Alicia Komaki has coached several outstanding players. However, Robinson and Watkins occupy a particularly important place in the school’s basketball history.

Komaki considers both players, alongside WNBA veteran Kennedy Burke, members of Sierra Canyon’s basketball “Mount Rushmore.”

Speaking about their different journeys and accomplishments, Komaki explained:

“JuJu, talent-wise, is I think not just the best to play at Sierra Canyon, but one of the best to play the game of basketball,” Komaki told The State. “… And then Jerzy has our records. Jerzy is the all-time leading scorer at Sierra Canyon and was here for three years. So they all just kind of have a little bit different of a journey and a path. They’re all very different players, but all exceptional talents.”

Their upcoming meeting represents another significant milestone for two players whose high school careers were shaped by the same coaching environment.

Jerzy Robinson’s Development at South Carolina

Robinson spent her final three high school seasons playing for Komaki at Sierra Canyon. Her accomplishments included becoming a McDonald’s All-American and a finalist for the 2026 Naismith National Player of the Year award.

She also established herself as Sierra Canyon’s all-time leading scorer, finishing her high school career with 2,649 points, surpassing the previous record held by Watkins.

Ranked No. 6 nationally in the 2026 recruiting class, Robinson arrived at South Carolina as a five-star prospect with considerable expectations.

Komaki has been encouraged by how the freshman has adjusted to college basketball and the demands of playing for Dawn Staley.

“Happy about how she’s adjusting, how she’s playing,” Komaki said. “… She’s just being patient and enjoying the journey and enjoying being a part of arguably the best team in the country, and she’s learning a lot and growing a lot. So I’ve been happy with just how she’s been able to step on the court and look good.”

One particularly important development has been Robinson’s transition toward playing point guard.

Although she entered college primarily viewed as a combo guard, South Carolina has given her opportunities to help organize the offense. Komaki believes her basketball understanding and all-around abilities make her capable of handling those responsibilities.

“She understands the game well and anybody who’s going to be successful in the point guard position has to have that,” Komaki said. “You can’t necessarily teach that part of it. … She’s got a great base. Jerzy is actually a really darn good passer. She’s got a reputation of not passing the ball as much. She excels in it.”

For South Carolina, Robinson’s development as a playmaker could become increasingly important as the season progresses.

JuJu Watkins Returns to Lead Southern Cal

Watkins followed a different path before becoming one of the most recognizable players in women’s college basketball.

After beginning her high school career at Windward High School in California, she spent her final two seasons at Sierra Canyon under Komaki.

Her high school achievements included McDonald’s All-American recognition, the 2022 Gatorade California Player of the Year award and the 2023 Gatorade National Girls Player of the Year honor.

She entered Southern Cal as the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class and quickly established herself as an elite college player.

Across her first two seasons, Watkins averaged 25.5 points per game and collected major individual honors, including two All-American selections, the Wooden Award and the Naismith Trophy.

However, an ACL injury sustained during the 2025 NCAA Tournament kept her out of the previous season.

Her return has been encouraging. Watkins is averaging 24.3 points through Southern Cal’s first three games of the 2026-27 season, demonstrating that she remains a major offensive threat.

Komaki also remembers the extraordinary intensity Watkins brought to every practice.

“We even bring it up now with our current team — you guys don’t know what it’s like to go hard. You think you’re going hard, Juju went hard every single drill,” Komaki said. “Every drill, no matter if it was fall, winter, spring or summer, if it was a casual workout or a playoff basketball practice, she was going hard. So we show clips like this is what hard looks like.”

That competitive mentality remains one of the qualities that makes Watkins such an important player for Southern Cal.

Robinson vs. Watkins: What Should Fans Watch?

Although both players operate primarily in the backcourt, Komaki believes their playing styles are considerably different.

What they share, however, is an intense desire to compete and establish themselves among basketball’s best.

“That’s the thing that stands out, for both her and Jerzy, just their competitive nature and how seriously they took the game,” Komaki said. “… Both of them want to be one of the best players to ever play the game of basketball. So you can’t just say that, you got to put that into action. And so I think both of them do that extremely well.”

There could be several opportunities for the former teammates to defend one another during Sunday’s contest.

Komaki expects both players to find opportunities offensively.

“Both are such high-level scorers and both are such competitive athletes,” Komaki said. “They’re they’re both going to score.”

For South Carolina, Robinson’s ability to contribute without forcing the offense will be worth monitoring. For Southern Cal, Watkins’ scoring, experience and ability to create opportunities for teammates will be equally important.

Two National Championship Contenders Meet Early

Komaki believes the matchup is significant beyond the personal connection between the two guards.

She considers both programs capable of competing for a national championship this season.

Although she will not travel across the country to attend the game, she is looking forward to watching her former players compete.

“The biggest thing is just that these kids are ready to play, so the pride comes from that,” Komaki said. “It’s just gonna be super fun to watch. I’m just really looking forward to super high-level basketball.

“I think these are obviously two teams that can win a national championship this year. So for them to square off so early in the season is just exciting for a basketball fan period. And then obviously I hope (Watkins and Robinson) they both do really well.”

South Carolina vs. Southern Cal: How to Watch

Matchup: No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 3 Southern Cal
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026
Tipoff: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
Television: ABC
Streaming: ESPN.com and ESPN app

What Happens Next?

Sunday’s meeting will provide an early-season examination of two highly ranked programs with national championship ambitions.

For Robinson, it is an opportunity to demonstrate her development against an elite opponent while continuing to establish her role in South Carolina’s backcourt.

For Watkins, it is another opportunity to show how much she can influence Southern Cal following her return from injury.

The reunion of two Sierra Canyon standouts adds a compelling individual storyline to an important national matchup. Ultimately, however, the result will depend on which team executes better across 40 minutes.