Ashlyn Watkins

Ashlyn Watkins (born October 5, 2003) is an American college basketball player for the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

High school career Watkins attended Cardinal Newman High School in Columbia, South Carolina, where she led the basketball team to four straight SCISA class 3A state titles. She was named a McDonald's All-American and the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022. Watkins won the McDonald's All-American Dunk Contest.

Watkins started dunking in middle school while attending Cardinal Newman.

On November 17, 2022, Watkins stole the ball in the closing seconds of No. 1 South Carolina's 85–31 road win against Clemson. Once in possession of the ball, Watkins dribbled the ball to the basket and slammed it, the first dunk in South Carolina women's basketball history.

Legal issues On the morning of August 31, 2024, Watkins was arrested on an assault charge. That afternoon, Watkins was released after posting a $30,000 bond. Watkins has not commented on the arrest or allegations.