On Jan. 1, 2015, then-freshman Devin Watson knew that his opportunity had finally arrived. After coming off the bench for the first 14 games of the season, Watson earned a spot in the starting lineup against San Diego on New Year's Day and hasn't looked back.

The Oceanside, Calif., native started 15 consecutive games and finished the season as the Dons fourth leading scorer at 8.4 points per game. Watson was named to the WCC All-Freshmen team and left his mark all over USF's all-time records for freshman.

With a year of valuable experience behind him, Watson is growing into his role as a team leader. The sophomore ranks second in the WCC with 19.5 points per game and has poured in 51 points combined in his past two contests. In Saturday's game against UC Riverside, Watson helped spark a huge rally for the Dons, scoring 14 of his 27 points in the game's final 7:17 to lift the Green and Gold to a dramatic 58-57 win. 

Before Monday's practice, Watson took a few minutes of his time to sit down and discuss several topics relating to his time on the Hilltop. Watson talks about his freshman season, what he worked on this off-season and his goals for the 2015-16 year.

What are you most excited for this season?
I'm just excited to get out there and play with these guys one game at a time. I'm looking forward to getting the non-conference games out of the way, going through the conference games and then getting to Las Vegas. I'm really excited about getting back to Las Vegas and being able to experience what I experienced last year, but winning a few more games.

How much more comfortable are you now than at this time last year?
I'm just able to do a lot more for the team this year. I am confident in creating plays for not just myself, but for my teammates too.

What types of lessons did you learn from last year?
I learned to work hard and be a team player. Last year really humbled me and I think it helped me in the long run.

What areas of your game did you work on in the off-season?
I definitely worked on getting stronger and communicating a lot more. Every player is different so you have to learn what to say and when to say it. I also worked on my jump-shot and ball handling.

What are the keys for your development this year?
Leadership - being a floor general and a leader on the court. I want to make sure everybody is doing what they should be doing.

From an experience standpoint, you are one of the veterans on this team already. Did you have any words of wisdom for the freshmen class?
I just told them to stay the course. Everyone has their own path and your time will come.

When you think of a point guard as a leader, what are some of the things that come to mind for you?
The first thing that comes to mind is communication - knowing how to deal with the players on your team. Also, being the floor general - the coach on the court. It's also important to know what all five spots on the floor are supposed to do, both on offense and defense.

What are your expectations for the season?
I want to have a great non-conference record, go on a big winning streak leading into the conference tournament and then I want to win it all. This is our year and we're just getting started.

Which point guards in the NBA do you try to model your game after?
Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Canaan. I really like the way Canaan played at Murray State and how he shoots the ball. I like the way Paul works on the ball screens and Irving's savviness to get in the paint and create plays.

Your older brother, Mikel, played Division I basketball at Wyoming and Utah State. How much did he help out your game when you were younger?
He definitely helped me out a lot. My Dad coached my brother which just created the love and passion of the game for me. I learned everything from my brother and my Dad. After every game I get a text message that says what I can improve on. It helps get me ready for the next game.

Who wins 1 on 1 between you and Mikel?
Me. He might lie about it, but it's me. Last year is when I started to beat him. He got me last time out but I'm ready to get a win next time.