Ashlyn Watkins hasn't been with the team since her Aug. 31 arrest.
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From Rock Hill, S.C., David Cloninger covers Gamecock sports. He will not rest until he owns every great film and song ever recorded.Want the inside scoop on Gamecock athletics? Subscribe to Gamecocks Now.
David Cloninger
COLUMBIA— Nearly two full months after her arrest for assault and kidnapping, the future status of suspended South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins remains murky.
Watkins, taken into custody and released on bond on Aug. 31, hasn’t been part of the team since the incident. Her first court date was originally listed for Friday, but was rescheduled.
The new date isn’t known, but whenever it is, Watkins does not have to appear.
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“This case is currently pending in our office. Ms. Watkins and other defendants with pending criminal matters in Richland County were scheduled for a first appearance (on Oct. 25),” Public Information Officer for the Fifth Judicial Circuit Aliyah Scott said in an email. “Since she's obtained legal representation, she is not required to appear in court (for a first appearance). If necessary, a second appearance will be scheduled in approximately four months to monitor the progress of this case.”
A resolution for the case, if there has been one, has not been announced. A team spokesperson said that Watkins' status with the team has not changed.
“Status is still the same. Nothing’s moved yet. We’re not going to move until her situation settles down a little bit,” coach Dawn Staley said on Sept. 24. “It’s out of her control, out of our control.”
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Staley said that Watkins was doing “great” despite not being able to practice or be around the team. Watkins missed the Gamecocks’ Sept. 10 visit to the White House to celebrate their 2024 national championship and USC’s 106-63 exhibition win at Memphis on Oct. 15.
The Gamecocks, again christened No. 1 in the polls, host Clayton State in their second and final exhibition at 7 p.m. Monday. They begin the season against Michigan on Nov. 4 in Las Vegas.
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Legally, the case could be resolved at any time. It is not uncommon for attorneys on each side to meet outside the courtroom and discuss potential resolutions.
Outside of that, Watkins may be facing a university review. USC “conducts administrative reviews of students who have been charged in criminal cases, especially when they stem from an on-campus incident,” school spokesperson Jeff Stensland said in an email. “While those reviews are ongoing, there are a variety of emergency actions that may occur to ensure safety, depending on individual circumstances. That can include barring a student from attending in-person classes, living in university sponsored housing and suspension from participating in other campus activities.”
Once the university finishes its review, the athletic department and team can decide on any other potential discipline.
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David Cloninger
From Rock Hill, S.C., David Cloninger covers Gamecock sports. He will not rest until he owns every great film and song ever recorded.Want the inside scoop on Gamecock athletics? Subscribe to Gamecocks Now.
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