Jamir Watkins has revealed on social media that he will be returning to Florida State for the 2024-25 season. He is currently ranked as the top player in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings.
According to a report by On3’s Pete Nakos, Watkins had his name listed in the transfer portal with a “do not contact” tag right after the transfer window closed. Throughout the pre-draft process, Watkins kept his options open.
Despite scheduling a visit with Michigan as reported by CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Watkins had always considered the possibility of returning to Tallahassee. Along with Michigan, he also had St. John’s, Oregon, Kansas State, and Cincinnati in his list of top schools. Even after withdrawing from the 2024 NBA Draft before the deadline, Watkins remained in the transfer portal.
Having excelled for Florida State in the previous season with a career-high average of 15.8 points and 2.8 assists per game, Watkins initially declared for the NBA Draft. However, he later entered the transfer portal to explore his options. Upon his decision to return to college, he has now been ranked as the sixth-best player overall and the top player available in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings.
Jamir Watkins is aiming to replicate his success in the upcoming 2024-25 season
Beginning his collegiate career at VCU and spending three seasons with the Rams, Watkins faced a setback in the 2021-22 season due to a knee injury. However, he returned strongly, averaging 9.5 points as a redshirt sophomore before transferring to Florida State for the previous season.
Aside from his average of 15.6 points, Watkins also demonstrated his versatility by averaging 6.0 rebounds and shooting 45.7% from the field. One of his standout performances was against Virginia Tech in the second round of the ACC Tournament, where the 6-foot-7 forward scored a career-high 34 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and made four steals.
In recognition of his contributions, Watkins received an All-ACC Honorable Mention from the ACC Coaches and a Blue Ribbon media panel.
Following a season where Florida State posted a 17-16 overall record, with a 10-10 mark in ACC play, the team experienced significant roster changes. Eight players, including Watkins and Baba Miller, entered the transfer portal. Miller, who also withdrew from the NBA Draft, ultimately committed to Florida Atlantic.
Despite the departures, Florida State is set to welcome three new players, with former Hampton forward Jerry Deng being part of that group. Deng, who averaged 10.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in his previous season at Hampton before entering the transfer portal, has now joined the Seminoles in Tallahassee.
Leave a Reply