Kobe

She’ll take the court at Crypto.com Arena, the house that Kobe Bryant built — a player she reveres, being one of the many young women in basketball carrying on his legacy through the Mamba Mentality.

"Competing against the top 160 American players, along with a handful of prospects from places like China, France, Australia, Canada and Russia, Kobe was intimidated by no-one."

Bouncing beneath her trademark bun, moving so effortlessly yet intensely through the court that she reminds folks of Kobe Bryant, Watkins has replaced Caitlin Clark as the face of women’s college basketball.

The Bruins could also use a big-time upgrade at point guard and one veteran wing player, if not two, to offset the departures of seniors Kobe Johnson and Lazar Stefanovic.

They did to start the game, Kobe Johnson reaching in to force a jump ball before the first point had been scored.