South Carolina Athletics confirmed Ashlyn Watkins’ suspension from team activities remains at this time.
This comes a day after WIS-TV reported that Watkins was no longer suspended, citing a “reliable source,” but did not say whether the suspension was university-related or at the team level. Watkins was charged with first-degree assault and kidnapping after the incident at 650 Lincoln St., the USC residential and retail center, according to an arrest warrant released Saturday.
University spokesman Jeff Stensland told The State he could not comment on students, but provided the following statement:
“The University conducts an administrative review of students charged in criminal cases, especially when it occurs on campus. While the review is underway, there are various emergency actions that can be taken to ensure safety, depending on the individual situation. This may include banning the student from attending classes private, live in university-sponsored housing, and participate in other campus activities.Again, these decisions are based on student safety and individual circumstances.
According to athletic department policy, Watkins’ arrest resulted in an automatic team suspension. USC has not commented publicly on the incident or the suspension, only acknowledging through a spokeswoman for the women’s basketball team on Saturday that it was aware of the situation and was gathering information. When reached Wednesday night, the spokeswoman said USC had no additional comment.
Watkins’ father, Vancito Watkins, made a Facebook post Wednesday night saying “USC’s suspension has been lifted,” with two “100” emojis and two praying emojis. Vancito’s post has since been removed, and he did not respond to a Facebook message seeking clarification on the post.
The state has been unable to reach Watkins’ attorney, state Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland.
Watkins was a member of South Carolina’s 2024 national championship team. He is a 6-foot-3 forward and the Gamecocks’ top defensive player. Watkins attended Cardinal Newman for high school, where he won the Gatorade Player of the Year Award in 2022. He also won the McDonald’s All-American dunk contest that year.
What’s the warrant, the police report said
Warrants say Watkins assaulted the victim by “grabbing her face, pulling her arms, and pushing her.” He also allegedly lifted the victim up to him and took him away, grabbed his head and forced him to walk down the hall and prevented him from leaving.
The warrant also said the victim eventually walked away from Watkins and pulled the fire alarm. Police and firefighters responded and treated the victim for injuries, which were not life-threatening.
According to a police incident report released Tuesday, USC police officers responded to Lincoln Street just before 3 a.m. Friday for a fire alarm and saw a group of people walking into the parking garage. The officer also heard “someone screaming for help,” according to the report. The officer saw a man leaning on a ledge on the third level of the garage yelling for help, and another man grabbed him.
The victim “appeared upset,” according to the report. He told police he had argued with Watkins, 20, and “tried to get rid of him.”
The victim said he had driven to 650 Lincoln to see his “best friend” and pointed to Watkins. Later the victim was on the second floor helping a sick friend, he told police.
Watkins returned and confronted him because he believed the victim was “lying on him,” the victim told police.
While the victim first told police multiple times that Watkins hit her, she later said Watkins did not hit her, according to the report.
Watkins told police he went looking for the victim – whom police described as his “girlfriend” – on the second floor to take her car on the fourth floor.
According to the police report, Watkins admitted to “grabbing her” and walking outside. The two then returned to Watkins’ room to release her dog. While letting her dog go, Watkins said the victim started running around the parking garage and lifted himself up over the edge. Watkins told police he “wrapped both arms around” the victim because he believed he was going to jump.
EMS and police spoke with all parties and determined the victim was not suicidal, according to the police report.
Watkins was granted a $30,000 personal recognizance bond, with the condition that he have no contact with the victim and stay 1,000 feet away from the victim’s home, work, school and place of worship, according to online court records. Another condition listed is “Permission to travel out of state for games and training.”
Online court records say an initial court appearance for Watkins has been set for Oct. 25, 10 days before USC’s 2024-25 season opener against Michigan in Las Vegas on Nov. 4.
“We believe that if everyone knew what happened, it would be a misunderstanding,” Watkins’ attorney, Todd Rutherford, told WLTX on Saturday. “What we do know is that Ashlyn didn’t attack anyone, and she didn’t kidnap anyone.”
The Gamecocks will visit the White House to celebrate their 2024 national championship on Tuesday, though it’s unclear whether Watkins will be able to attend.