South Carolina's Ashlyn Watkins' suspension gets lifted following arrest on charges of assault and kidnapping 

According to an athletic department spokesperson on Wednesday, the suspension against Ashlyn Watkins for her arrest for an alleged assault and kidnapping is now ineffective. The Gamecocks forward was charged with first-degree kidnapping and assault regarding an incident in the university’s housing and retail center.

Her arrest triggered an automatic suspension. However, due to the brief time frame between the initial and the latest update, it remains unknown whether her suspension was enforced by the basketball program or the university.

According to the warrant issued by USC police, Watkins was accused of assaulting a female juvenile by "forcefully grabbing her face, pulling her by her arms, and pushing her." Moreover, Watkins also "grabbed the victim's head and forced her to walk down the hall, thus controlling her movement while preventing her from leaving."

When escaped, the individual allegedly pulled a fire alarm before receiving medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries. Watkins has since posted a $30,000 personal recognizance bond and is scheduled for her first court appearance on October 25.

A South Carolina attorney, Seth Rose, highlighted the incident to shed light on the alleged need for change in South Carolina’s kidnapping statute.

“A concern, I think most people would be shocked to learn, is restricting someone’s movement for a moment in time is kidnapping,” Rose said while speaking to WIS-TV.

The attorney claimed that misconceptions around the kidnapping statute battles with the general public’s logic and reasoning.

Ashlyn Watkins is South Carolina's best defensive player

Ashlyn Watkins only started 10 games for Dawn Staley last season, recording nearly 20 minutes per game throughout the season. However, she was handed more court time in three of South Carolina’s six NCAA games.

A major reason was Watkins’ ability to anchor the defense. She led the nation in blocks with 91 swats last season, with a defensive rating of above 65.

Moreover, during the last three games in the Gamecocks’ undefeated title run, Ashlyn Watkins averaged 13 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, mounting her best three-game stretch of the season.

Her current standing and availability with the Gamecocks' crew remain undisclosed because of the recent allegations.