Special to the Northeast News

By Thomas Grant, Jr.

An Oct. 25 court appearance is scheduled for University of South Carolina and former Cardinal Newman forward Ashlyn Watkins following her arrest this past weekend.

The Associated Press reported Watkins was charged with assault and battery and kidnapping during an incident in Richland County. According to the warrant filed by the University of South Carolina Police Department, Watkins had allegedly assaulted the woman by “forcefully grabbing her face, pulling her arms and pushing.”

It went on to read that Watkins picked up the victim against her will, grabbed her head and forced her to walk down the hall, thus controlling her movement while preventing her from leaving.”

The victim broke free and pulled a fire alarm, according to the warrant, which led to police and fire personnel arriving at the site. The warrant said the victim was treated for injuries that were described as not life-threatening.

As part of the bond, Watkins was ordered to stay 1,000 feet from the victim’s home, work, school, and place of worship. She would be permitted to travel out of state for basketball games and practices.

A University of South Carolina spokesperson said the school is aware of the situation and are continuing to gather information. The team has also not announced any planned scrimmages or exhibitions for this season.

On Sunday, Watkins’ attorney and state Rep. Todd Rutherford spoke on the matter.

“We just ask for patience as we unpack what happened two nights ago and we firmly believe when all the facts come out this will simply be a misunderstanding. And she maintains her innocence throughout this entire process,” Rutherford said in a telephone interview.

 A former state champion and McDonald’s All-American, Watkins averaged 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for the 38-0 national champion Gamecocks. On Aug. 17, she held a basketball camp at her high school alma mater that drew over 150 boys and girls participants from kindergarten to 10th grade.

Feature photo: Ashlyn Watkins works with youth at her basketball camp this summer.