South Carolina's Ashlyn Watkins suspended until charges resolved

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said nothing has changed with the status of suspended forward Ashlyn Watkins and she's unsure when or if her player will be available for the season.

Watkins is a 6-foot-3 junior from Columbia who was arrested Aug. 31 and charged with first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping.

"Nothing's moved yet," Staley said Tuesday, a day after her team started fall practice. "We're not going to move until her situation's settled down a little bit. It's out of her control. It's out of our control."

Watkins has been suspended from the team since the incident and was not part of the group that visited the White House two weeks ago.

She averaged 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds and led the Gamecocks with 91 blocks as the team finished 38-0 to win its third national championship and second in three seasons.

Watkins is expected to take over down low for last season's leading scorer, 6-7 Kamilla Cardoso , who is now in the WNBA. Watkins is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 25, less than two weeks before the Gamecocks open the campaign Nov. 4 against Michigan in Las Vegas.

Staley said Watkins was doing well despite not working out with the team.

"Yeah, she's great," the coach said.