By Thomas Grant Jr.
Defending national champion South Carolina is expected to get one of its top rebounders back on the court.
The Athletics Department said Thursday forward Ashlyn Watkins, who was been suspended from the team since Aug. 31 following assault and kidnapping charges, has returned to team activities. Court records available online showed the charges were dismissed Nov. 1.
During her suspension, the Cardinal Newman graduate and former S.C. Gatorade Player of the Year had missed the team’s appearance at the White House. They were honored by President Joe Biden after winning the national championship with a 38-0 record.
The top-ranked Gamecocks opened the season last Monday in Las Vegas, Nev. They held on for a 68-62 win over Michigan in a game where it was 52-52 in total rebounds.
Watkins averaged 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds and a Southeastern Conference-leading 91 blocks last season. She holds the title of the first two dunks in the South Carolina program, dunking once in each of her freshman and sophomore seasons.
