Gamecocks 2024-25 Season: Part One

[Alydar]

All we know is the police report. We don't know how complete it is. I doubt that the victim was assaulted randomly. It's concerning but nobody has been convicted of anything so it's premature to assume guilt.

 

[huskiemaniac]

Excuse my skepticism but in many instances like this, the talented players are more likely to be suspended and then "rehabilitated" a few weeks before the team's post-season tournament...... I'll be interested to see if Dawn sets the proper example........

I wouldn’t count on it…

 

[huskiemaniac]

All we know is the police report. We don't know how complete it is. I doubt that the victim was assaulted randomly. It's concerning but nobody has been convicted of anything so it's premature to assume guilt.

Innocent victims are assaulted by their partners every day. Just because it wasn’t random doesn’t mean it wasn’t assault. Not saying it was or wasn’t…though I doubt she smacked herself around.

 

[CajunHusk94]

All we know is the police report. We don't know how complete it is. I doubt that the victim was assaulted randomly. It's concerning but nobody has been convicted of anything so it's premature to assume guilt.

This entire story is disturbing, but I do believe we need to let all the facts come out then discipline/address appropriately.

 

[GamecockFam]

What was described in the article certainly fits the legal description of kidnapping.

I agree. I wasn't disputing that at all. It's just the legal definition and public perception of kidnapping are different insofar as people aren't reading the articles, seeing kidnapping in the article title, and then letting their imagination run with some wild scenarios like she had someone gagged and tied up in her trunk.

 

[GamecockFam]

Watkins is probably the best returning defensive post in the entire country and prior to this, a likely lottery pick in 2 years (potentially #1 overall). SC is insanely deep but if she’s gone, their rim protection looks far less intimidating. There’s still Feagin/Kitts/Dauda/Edwards/Tac but Watkins is on a Boston/Cardoso level defensively that you won’t find with any of the other posts.

Dauda was the #3 shot blocker in the SEC behind Cardoso and Watkins last season. Also, if what Dawn has said about Tac turns out to be true (that she has defensive instincts like Boston) and Edwards remains a defensive menace like she did in the FIBA tournament, I think we have a capable group that will still be a defensive nightmare match up. I agree, though, that Watkins, if found guilty, will truly be missed as a defender and rebounder. She had All-American potential next season that I don't see in our other forwards.

 

[Alydar]

Innocent victims are assaulted by their partners every day. Just because it wasn’t random doesn’t mean it wasn’t assault. Not saying it was or wasn’t…though I doubt she smacked herself around.

I was suggesting that the two may have a history. Some have convicted her already. Police write reports that will justify the charges. We have no idea what precipitated the fight. I wouldn't be shocked if Watkins files charges against whoever it is. or maybe Watkins just smacked her and did the rest without provocation. I hate rush to judgements.

 

[Bone Dog]

Dauda was the #3 shot blocker in the SEC behind Cardoso and Watkins last season. Also, if what Dawn has said about Tac turns out to be true (that she has defensive instincts like Boston) and Edwards remains a defensive menace like she did in the FIBA tournament, I think we have a capable group that will still be a defensive nightmare match up. I agree, though, that Watkins, if found guilty, will truly be missed as a defender and rebounder. She had All-American potential next season that I don't see in our other forwards.

Watkins would be a significant loss. But SC is a very deep team across the front court. They'll figure it out. I hope Ashlyn finds some peace, as does the victim.

 

[huskiemaniac]

I was suggesting that the two may have a history. Some have convicted her already. Police write reports that will justify the charges. We have no idea what precipitated the fight. I wouldn't be shocked if Watkins files charges against whoever it is. or maybe Watkins just smacked her and did the rest without provocation. I hate rush to judgements.

You’re assuming all kinds of things…

 

[Alydar]

You’re assuming all kinds of things…

no, I'm just pointing out possibilities, a lot of them. But they are no less valid than declaring her guilty as charged. Too many people have assumed her guilt and are throwing her out of school.

 

[Coburn]

from the most recent local reporting

“Watkins' attorney, Todd Rutherford, told News19 Saturday night that he and his client are asking for the public's patience.
“We believe once everybody has a full grasp of what happened, this will end up being a misunderstanding," Rutherford said. "What we know for certain is that Ashlyn did not assault anyone and she did not kidnap anyone”

 

[Creature]

Okay. Not a super reliable source but i am hearing she was trying to restrain somebody who was drunk from going back out. To party. They got mad and pulled the fire alarm. Police come in and heard the story- decided it was assault and here we are..,

 

[Vowelguy]

Okay. Not a super reliable source but i am hearing she was trying to restrain somebody who was drunk from going back out. To party. They got mad and pulled the fire alarm. Police come in and heard the story- decided it was assault and here we are..,

Police take the word of a drunk teenager?

 

[DRR25]

Dawns disciplining has not impressed me so far. Unless the university kicks AW out, I bet she returns.

Staley strikes me as being pretty no-nonsense (which is why Sahnya Jah transferred, for example) so I'm curious what disciplining you're referring to. Care to elaborate?

 

[GoChips20]

Watkins is probably the best returning defensive post in the entire country and prior to this, a likely lottery pick in 2 years (potentially #1 overall). SC is insanely deep but if she’s gone, their rim protection looks far less intimidating. There’s still Feagin/Kitts/Dauda/Edwards/Tac but Watkins is on a Boston/Cardoso level defensively that you won’t find with any of the other posts.

I agree with everything you’ve written here. That said, Dawn has stated that Tac has Boston-level IQ defensively and she has great physical tools so hopefully she can become a force there if Watkins is gone which I think is unfortunately a likelihood. But Tac’s health is a question mark.

The Dauda pickup, which I thought was unnecessary at the time, looks like an excellent decision in hindsight.

 

[visitingcock]

Okay. Not a super reliable source but i am hearing she was trying to restrain somebody who was drunk from going back out. To party. They got mad and pulled the fire alarm. Police come in and heard the story- decided it was assault and here we are..,

I do note that Ashlyn admitted the general facts for which she is charged. ( not the charges themselves).

Is the identity of your source available on-line?

assuming your source is correct, was the purported victim “going back out” with car keys? If so Ashlyn has an affirmative defense of “defense of others” If she was going to walk somewhere else on campus no affirmative defense I would say unless she was going back out to resume an altercation that had happened earlier.

“Going back out” is fairly vague.

 

[Bone Dog]

Okay. Not a super reliable source but i am hearing she was trying to restrain somebody who was drunk from going back out. To party. They got mad and pulled the fire alarm. Police come in and heard the story- decided it was assault and here we are..,

I hope this version of events turns out to be true. Ashlyn is such a great talent, I’d hate to see her career marred by something like this.

 

[visitingcock]

According to one report, her bond conditions require her to stay away from the victim’s school. The hearing (not trial - probably just an arraignment) is not until October 23. This could prevent Ashlyn to miss enough classes to be ineligible for the Fall semester even if the charges are dropped or she is found “not guilty.”

 

[caliwbb]

Okay. Not a super reliable source but i am hearing she was trying to restrain somebody who was drunk from going back out. To party. They got mad and pulled the fire alarm. Police come in and heard the story- decided it was assault and here we are..,

This is just my observation so take it with a grain of salt. SC 650 Lincoln dorm where the incident happened is reserved for USC upperclassmen, honors students, and athletes soooo the victim could be another student-athlete or roommate/teammate.

 

[UConnCat]

The victim is reportedly a minor (I.e., younger than 18) so may or may not be a student at SC. There is also video surveillance of the event.

Both warrants state officers read Watkins her rights, and she confessed -- though the warrants don't reveal what she said. They also state that the incident was captured on video surveillance cameras.

News19 was in court for her bond hearing Saturday afternoon. No cameras were allowed, but during the proceeding, prosecutors said both Watkins and the victim--who was referred to as a minor--knew each other.

South Carolina basketball star Ashlyn Watkins charged with assault and kidnapping

Ashlyn Watkins' attorney said the alleged assault incident is a misunderstanding, urging patience as more details come to light.

www.wltx.com

Conditions of the bond include having no contact with the victim and staying 1,000 yards away from the victim’s home, work, school and place of worship, according to online court records. Also listed as a condition is, “Permission to travel out of state for games and practice.”

Read more at: https://www.thestate.com/sports/col...asketball/article291773110.html#storylink=cpy

 

[temery]

Please stop with the rumors about whatever reason Watkins was arrested. It's getting ugly, and creating work for the mods.

 

[YoDore]

On another subject, a friend told me he heard SC made a recent offer to 6'3 Kaelyn Carroll (class of '25) of Tabor Academy in Massachusetts. Any of you Gamecock faithful know whether this is true? I've kept close tabs on her because she visited Vandy, but there doesn't seem to be any serious contact at this point. She's good.

ETA: Found it. Have to say I'm a bit surprised. She's good, but South Carolina good? Obviously, Dawn thinks so, and that's all that matters. Talented on the offensive end, for sure.

 

[Vowelguy]

Staley strikes me as being pretty no-nonsense (which is why Sahnya Jah transferred, for example) so I'm curious what disciplining you're referring to. Care to elaborate?

Wasn’t impressed with the Cardoso situation. Think there was something before that but can’t remember.

 

[huskiemaniac]

Okay. Not a super reliable source but i am hearing she was trying to restrain somebody who was drunk from going back out. To party. They got mad and pulled the fire alarm. Police come in and heard the story- decided it was assault and here we are..,

Yeah…I’m sure that was it!

 

[Sifaka]

Police take the word of a drunk teenager?

Most cops are honest, but there are plenty that invent “facts” for a variety of less than salubrious motives. All the cops in my family are of the former variety, except maybe one…