South Carolina basketball star remains suspended
South Carolina basketball standout Ashlyn Watkins was arrested over the weekend, and the subsequent coverage has varied widely.
As many South Carolina basketball fans are aware, Gamecock forward Ashlyn Watkins faced arrest on campus following an incident. The junior star has been charged with first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping, with reports differing significantly regarding the seriousness of the situation.
While some narratives portrayed the incident as highly concerning, others were less definitive. On Wednesday night, WIS News 10 suggested Watkins’ suspension would be lifted, signaling a potentially positive shift in her legal matters.
However, new information emerged on Thursday that contradicted this report.
According to Payton Titus from The State, Watkins remains suspended. Following her arrest, an automatic suspension was enacted for the All-SEC forward, which remains in place as the investigation continues.
Watkins played a crucial role in the undefeated 2023-2024 Gamecock National Championship team, starting nine games and ranking among the nation’s top shot-blockers and rebounders, all while sharing time with a strong group of frontcourt players.
This season, Dawn Staley’s South Carolina team is expected to be formidable once again, starting as the preseason #1 team in the nation and favored to secure their fourth National Championship since 2016-2017. No other team has won multiple titles within that timeframe.
Watkins’ long-term status on the team is uncertain, and it remains unclear whether her current suspension is from the University, the team, or both. If she returns for the 2024-2025 season, she could be a candidate for the starting lineup.
USC’s season will kick off on November 4th with a neutral site game against the Michigan Wolverines in Las Vegas as part of the Hall of Fame Series.
Leave a Reply