South Carolina basketball star Ashlyn Watkins is charged with assault and kidnapping

COLUMBIA, SC (AP) — South Carolina’s national championship-winning shortstop Ashlyn Watkins was arrested Saturday on charges of assault and battery and kidnapping.

Online Richland County court records show Watkins was granted a $30,000 personal recognizance bond. He was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with the victim, who was not named in the records, which also did not list an attorney for Watkins.

Watkins was ordered to stay 1,000 yards from the victim’s home, work, school and place of worship. He will be allowed to travel out of state for basketball games and practices.

She is scheduled to appear in court on October 25.

A warrant filed by the University of South Carolina Police Department and obtained by WLTX-TV said Watkins assaulted the victim by “grabbing her face, pulling her arms and pushing her.”

The warrant said Watkins took the victim against her will and carried her. It said Watkins “grabbed the victim’s head and forced her down the hall, thereby controlling her movement and preventing her from leaving.”

The victim was eventually freed and pulled a fire alarm, according to the warrant, which led to police and firefighters arriving at the scene. The warrant said the victim was treated for injuries that were described as life-threatening.

A spokeswoman for women’s basketball told The Associated Press in a text that the school was aware of Watkins’ arrest and was continuing to gather information. Watkins did not immediately respond to a social media message seeking comment.

Watkins is a rising 6-foot-3 junior who averaged 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds last season for the Gamecocks, who went 38-0 to become the first undefeated national champion since 2016. Watkins has also led the team with 91 blocks.

She became the first player in program history to dunk in a game during her freshman season, then added a second last season.

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AP Women’s College Basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball