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JuJu Watkins, the 19-year-old USC women’s basketball star who led the Trojans to the Elite Eight for the first time in more than 30 years, will be the subject of a new original documentary series which will air on NBC and Peacock. The show is being put together by UNINTERRUPTED and 4.4.Forty Media and will be called On the Rise: JuJu Watkins.
Last year, Watkins became the all-time leading scorer among freshmen in Division I history. The show, scheduled for six episodes, will chronicle her life both on and off the court.
The first two episodes will premiere Saturday Nov. 23 at 3:00 p.m. ET, followed by Watkins and No. 3 USC tipping off against No. 6 Notre Dame at 4:00 p.m. ET. In addition, episodes three through six will be released exclusively on Peacock for the remainder of the season. All episodes will also be available on the NBC Sports FAST Channel, which is available on Peacock and all major FAST channel distributors.
“‘On the Rise: JuJu Watkins’ isn’t only about sports – it shows how JuJu’s deep connection to her family and community drive her decision making and dedication to basketball,” said Chief Content Officer of UNINTERRUPTED Jamal Henderson in a release. Henderson additionally added, “UNINTERRUPTED is committed to delivering unrivaled, intimate access to the lives of athletes and we are excited to have like-minded partners in State Farm, 4.4.Forty Media, KLUTCH and NBC for this amazing project.”
“JuJu can set the standard for excellence on and off the court, and it’s amazing to see her begin to maximize the opportunities in front of her with strategy and expertise, even at this young age,” said Founder and CEO of KLUTCH Sports Group Rich Paul. “This documentary series captures her incredible journey to this point, showcasing her extraordinary talent, unwavering work ethic, and the vital role of community in her success.”
“From the beginning it was important that ‘On the Rise: JuJu Watkins’ shine a light on the real challenges and triumphs that JuJu and her family have faced along this journey,” said Danny Barton, 4.4.Forty Media Executive Producer and KLUTCH Sports’ VP of Sports Content. “We’re grateful to our partners and NBC Sports for sharing JuJu’s inspirational story as she becomes the first collegiate women’s basketball player to star in and executive produce her own show.”
“On the Rise: JuJu Watkins” is executive produced by LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Devin Johnson, Jamal Henderson and Philip Byron for UNINTERRUPTED. JuJu Watkins and Rich Paul of KLUTCH Sports, and Danny Barton of 4.4.Forty Media, will also executive produce.
