Despite reports to the contrary, South Carolina basketball star remains suspended

As most South Carolina basketball fans know by now, Gamecock forward Ashlyn Watkins was arrested over the weekend following an incident on campus. The star junior was charged with first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping after a confrontation that has been reported in a variety of ways in recent days.

Some reports have made the Saturday morning incident seem as if it was extremely serious and worth of the charges. Others have been much less conclusive. Then, on Wednesday night, WIS News 10 reported that Watkins' suspension was being lifted, indicating positive news for Watkins regarding her legal situation.

Information came out on Thursday night that contradicted that report.

According to a new report from Payton Titus of The State, Watkins remains suspended. Upon her arrest, an automatic suspension was triggered for the All-SEC forward, and the suspension has not been lifted as the investigation is ongoing.

A major part of the undefeated 2023-2024 Gamecock National Championship team, Watkins started 9 games and was one of the country's best shot-blockers and rebounders even while sharing playing time with a loaded group of frontcourt players.

This year, Dawn Staley's South Carolina basketball team should be loaded again. The Gamecocks are the preseason #1 team in the nation again and are viewed as heavy favorites to win their fourth National Championship since the 2016-2017 campaign. No other team has won multiple titles during that same stretch.

Watkins' long-term place on the team is unknown, and it is not clear if her current suspension is a University suspension a team suspension or both, but if she does return to the Gamecocks for the start of the 2024-2025 season, she is a candidate to be in the starting lineup.

USC will begin its season on November 4th when they travel out west to Las Vegas for a neutral site showdown with the Michigan Wolverines as part of the Hall of Fame Series.