South Carolina women’s hoops player charged with assault, kidnapping

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina women’s basketball player Ashlyn Watkins was arrested Friday, according to online records for Richland County (South Carolina).

Records show Watkins, 21, was charged with first-degree assault and battery as well as kidnapping. Bond was set for $30,000. She is scheduled to make a court appearance on Oct. 25.

According to the records, Watkins is to have ‘no direct contact with the unnamed victim,’ and stay 1,000 yards away from the ‘victim’s house, work, school and place of worship.’ Watkins will need ‘permission to travel out of state for games and practice.’

‘We are aware of the situation and are continuing to gather information,’ a South Carolina spokesperson told The Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Saturday.

Watkins, a junior forward, is from Columbia and played for Cardinal Newman High School. She was a key part of last season’s national championship team, averaging 9.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. When center Kamilla Cardoso missed five games, Watkins replaced her in the starting lineup. In the Final Four game against NC State on April 5, Watkins had a career-high 20 rebounds.

The 6-foot-3 Watkins is projected to start at center with Cardoso playing in the WNBA.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @LuluKesin