Charges were dropped against Ashlyn Watkins, a junior forward on the South Carolina women's basketball team on Nov. 1.
Watkins was arrested on Aug. 31 on charges of first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping. She posted a $30,000 bond the same day and was expected to appear in court on Oct. 25 for a preliminary injunction, but her appearance was delayed.
The report also shows that Watkins completed pre-trial intervention, or PTI, which is a program that provides first-time non-violent offenders with an alternative to traditional prosecution.
Watkins has been suspended from all team activities since her arrest. Head coach Dawn Staley last commented on Watkins' suspension on Sept. 24 during a preseason media availability. But Watkins' status is still unknown and no announcement has been regarding her status on the team.
“We’re not gonna move until her situation settles down a little bit,” Staley said. “It’s out of her control. It’s out of our control.”
According to the initial police report, Watkins allegedly assaulted the victim by “forcefully grabbing her, pulling her by her arms, and pushing her.” She, at one point, “picked up the victim against her will and carried her” and also “grabbed the victim’s head, forcing her down the hall.”
The victim then got away from Watkins, pulling the fire alarm and alerting police and fire personnel. A USC police officer responded to the fire alarm at 650 Lincoln, a university-owned apartment building, just before 3 a.m. The victim was later treated for non life-threatening injuries.
The State reported that the victim initially told police several times that Watkins hit her, before later saying that Watkins did not hit her.
Watkins was the 2022 South Carolina Gatorade High School Player of the Year and has appeared in 70 games with the Gamecocks, including every game in the Gamecocks’ national championship run last season. Watkins averages 7.3 points per game alongside 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in her career with South Carolina.