South Carolina women’s basketball preseason player profiles: Ashlyn Watkins

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South Carolina is just days away from beginning its title defense against Michigan in Las Vegas. All month, GamecockCentral has profiled each member of the team and how she will contribute this season. For our final entry, we look at the biggest question mark of all, Ashlyn Watkins,

Ashlyn Watkins (Junior, Forward, 6-3)
38 games (9 starts), 9.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 1.3 spg, 55.0 FG%

Player profile 
Watkins is a unique player. There may not be anyone else in the country with her combination of size, skill, and athleticism. She is a tenacious rebounder who grabbed 20 boards in the Final Four and was South Carolina’s best defender last season.

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Preseason assessment 
Watkins was arrested on August 31 on charges of assault and kidnapping. She is suspended indefinitely pending some sort of legal resolution. 

Burning question: When Will Watkins return to the team?
Everyone is anxiously waiting to find out the answer. Watkins was supposed to take over for Kamilla Cardoso in the middle, providing the same sort of dominant post presence. Instead, South Carolina enters the season with a makeshift post rotation. Even if Watkins returns this season, she probably would not be in game shape. If it is late in the season there could be concerns about chemistry and disrupting an established rotation.

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