5-star hometown basketball standout signs with Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks
Another one of the top in-state girls basketball talents is staying home.
Cardinal Newman center Ashlyn Watkins announced Wednesday she will play college basketball for Dawn Staley and the South Carolina women’s basketball team. Watkins made her announcement at her Columbia-area high school in front of friends and family. She picked the Gamecocks over North Carolina.
“I want to continue my education at the University of South Carolina,” Watkins said as she put on a Gamecocks hat.
Watkins was joined by family members for the announcement. Ashlyn’s mother, Harriet, described it as a special day for their family.
In August, Watkins announced her final four schools of Kentucky, Mississippi State, North Carolina and South Carolina. But she told The State earlier this month that it was down to the Gamecocks and Tar Heels, the only two schools she took her official visits with during the recruiting process.
”It wasn’t an easy decision but I chose South Carolina because Dawn (Staley) was going to get me places that I needed to be,” Watkins said. “... It excites me I get to be coached by somebody that has been through it all and more that I have been through.”
One of those places Watkins references was playing in the WNBA one day. The USC program has several former players, including former MVP A’ja Wilson, playing in the league.
Watkins, who grew up going to South Carolina games, said playing at home also was big benefit to picking the Gamecocks.
“It is very exciting for us because we are a close-knit family,” Harriet Watkins said. “We can ride 20 minutes down the road, and that is awesome.”
Ashlyn Watkins said she informed the USC and UNC coaching staffs over the weekend of her decision. Before that, they had a family meeting to talk about the pending choice.
“We did visit other schools and we were looking at pros and cons in addition to your goals, ‘What are you trying to do in life,’ and see who can help you with that. And that is how we came up with South Carolina,” Harriet Watkins said. “... It is very exciting and it has been a long road. She has been playing basketball since the second grade, so just to see the fruits of her labor is very exciting.”
Watkins will be the highest-ranked in-state prospect to play for Staley since Wilson in 2014. Wilson was the No. 1 recruit in the country when she picked the Gamecocks.
Watkins, a five-star prospect, is ranked No. 12 overall nationally in the Class of 2022 by ESPN HoopGurlz rankings.
Staley was one of the first coaches to offer Watkins a scholarship and was in the stands at her state championship volleyball game a few weeks ago.
“We have known about Ashlyn since she was in the sixth grade, and it’s hard to believe the time has final come,” Staley said Wednesday in a school statement. “We are excited for our FAMS to see what this young woman is capable of. Her impact should be immediate on both sides of the ball.”
The fall signing period for basketball ended Wednesday, with USC confirming Watkins’ signing later in the afternoon. Fellow in-state talent Talaysia Cooper of East Clarendon picked USC on Oct. 23 and signed with the Gamecocks on Nov. 10. South Carolina had the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for Class of 2021.
Watkins is in her fifth year as a starter at Cardinal Newman, has averaged a double-double each season and is close to 1,500 points in her career. She has a career average of 15.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.4 blocks and had 23 points, 18 rebounds and five blocked shots in last year’s state championship win over Northwood.
The 6-foot-3 Watkins burst on the national scene for her dunking ability. Her first dunk came in the fifth grade, and she dunked twice in AAU events during the summer of 2018. She also dunked in a playoff game in 2020 and her last dunk came in October at Wooten Top 150 Camp.
No USC player has ever dunked in a game. Watkins was asked about the possibility of being the first to do so.
“Maybe,” Watkins said with a smile.
This story was originally published November 17, 2021 at 12:15 PM.
