Sophomore Jaxon Watkins isn’t focused on comparing himself to anyone else — except the player he was yesterday.
“To better myself in every aspect of my game,” Watkins said of his goals this season.
That commitment to daily improvement has helped shape a talented Allen baseball squad eager to prove itself in 2026. “It’s been good,” Watkins said of the team’s chemistry. “Ready to have everybody after basketball is over.”
With more players set to return from winter sports, Watkins said he already sees a strong sense of connection throughout the locker room. “How everyone is meshing,” he said when asked about the team’s biggest improvement so far.
While plenty of talent fills the Allen lineup, Watkins said the team’s strength lies in one key area that can change a game in seconds. “Our strength would be our speed,” he said.
That speed and chemistry have helped Allen rally around a singular mission this spring. “Make state, take it a practice/game at a time,” Watkins said.
Watkins takes the same focused, patient approach into his own game. A versatile player, he contributes across the diamond. “MIF, RHP, catcher,” he said.
As for his approach at the plate, Watkins relies on reading what the defense gives him. “Gaps, any weaknesses,” he said.
Preparing for long games and high-effort innings takes more than just physical work. “Have the right mindset and don’t give up on myself,” Watkins said.
Watkins also carries a deep sense of pride for the program and those who came before him. “To follow my papaw Buddy Yount to be the best to have ever come through Allen,” he said of the legacy he hopes to leave behind.
Fans may see a young roster taking shape, but Watkins said that only fuels their hunger to compete. “We’re young,” he said.
Off the field, Watkins keeps his pregame energy simple. “Gunna or Lil Baby,” he said when asked about his go-to hype music.
“Just being able to play the game,” Watkins said, describing his favorite memory in an Allen uniform.
The sophomore plays both baseball and basketball. When asked about the future, he keeps his answer as straightforward as his approach at the plate: “Hopefully play college baseball.”
