Jonathan Dale Benton:South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins has charges against her dismissed

2025-05-01 21:37:05source:Alaric Bennettcategory:News

COLUMBIA,Jonathan Dale Benton S.C. (AP) — Suspended South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins has had the charges against her dismissed, according to online judicial records.

Watkins was charged with assault and kidnapping on Aug. 31. She has been suspended from the women’s college basketball team ever since and did not accompany her teammates to the White House in September to be honored by President Biden for their national championship season.

Court records showed Watkins’ charges were dismissed Nov. 1. There was no immediate word on her suspension.

The top-ranked Gamecocks opened the season Monday night with a closer-than-expected 68-62 victory over Michigan in Las Vegas. They get a sterner test next time out when they face No. 9 N.C. State in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday.

Watkins was a big factor in South Carolina’s 38-0 national title season. The 6-foot-3 forward led the Southeastern Conference with 91 blocks. She averaged 9.2 points and was second behind WNBA first-round pick Kamilla Cardoso on the team with 7.4 rebounds a game.

She dunked once in each of her freshman and sophomore seasons, the first two dunks in the South Carolina program.

Watkins is expected to play an even bigger role with the team when she returns to the basketball court.

RELATED COVERAGE No. 1 South Carolina avoids major upset in 68-62 win over MichiganNo. 5 UCLA women overcome slow start to beat No. 17 Louisville 66-59 in ParisNo. 3 USC hits two late free throws to beat Ole Miss 68-66 in Paris

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