Tony Bennett on Virginia’s rout of Miami When Ryan Odom was employed, Watkins stated VCU required all of the gamers who have been in search of to enter the portal to satisfy with the Rams\u2019 new coach. Watkins did and got here away impressed, however his curiosity in a doable switch had already been sparked.
CHARLOTTESVILLE \u2013 It didn\u2019t take lengthy for VCU basketball switch Jamir Watkins to hit it off with certainly one of his new Florida State teammates.
Watkins<\/a> and Georgetown switch Primo Spears<\/a> arrived in Tallahassee, Fla., on the identical day \u2013 move-in day at FSU\u2019s campus \u2013 and a Seminoles assistant coach took them purchasing.
\u201cWe went to Wal-mart and received some stuff for the crib, as a result of it was so recent and new,\u201d Spears recalled this week. \u201cWe really each received the identical 75-inch TV.\u201d
From there, the 2 went to the health club for a shoot-around. They\u2019ve been tight associates ever since \u2013 and two key the reason why Florida State sits in fourth-place within the convention heading into Saturday\u2019s showdown with Virginia<\/a> (18-5, 9-3 ACC).
Watkins leads the Seminoles in scoring, rebounding and assists, averaging 13.7 factors, 5.8 rebounds and a pair of.8 assists per recreation. He\u2019s tied for the staff lead in steals and ranks second on the roster in blocked photographs.
\u201cHe\u2019s made impacts on all the pieces that we\u2019re doing, offensively and defensively,\u201d FSU coach Leonard Hamilton stated. \u201cHe\u2019s a excessive IQ man.\u201d
Watkins had a formidable rookie 12 months at VCU in 2020-21, averaging 7.2 factors per recreation, third on the staff. Sophomore 12 months was shaping as much as be a breakout season for the 6-foot-7, 210-pound New Jersey native. However he suffered a torn ACL in his proper knee and missed the 12 months.
He got here again in 2023-23 and averaged 9.5 factors, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per recreation, all profession highs, whereas beginning 17 of the 35 contests he performed in.
Watkins stated he had no ideas of getting into the NCAA switch portal \u2013 till coach Mike Rhoades left the Rams for Penn State.
\u201cAt VCU it was an important expertise. I really feel like I discovered loads over there from the teaching workers and with the gamers that I performed with,\u201d Watkins stated this week. \u201cI went by some ups and downs, getting harm, having to take a seat out a complete season, so I discovered loads about myself off the court docket, too.
\u201cIt was actually the teaching change that made me take into consideration placing my title within the switch portal, seeing what was on the market for me.\u201d
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\u201cI simply wished to weigh my choices and see what I might get out of the switch portal,\u201d stated Watkins, who nonetheless retains in contact with lots of his former VCU teammates in a FaceTime group chat.
He heard from various main applications and took visits to each Florida State and Arkansas, earlier than selecting to play for Leonard Hamilton, the Seminoles coach since 2002 and a former coach at Oklahoma State and Miami and within the NBA with the Washington Wizards.
\u201cIt\u2019s been nice attending to play beneath him, realizing all the nice folks he\u2019s coached,\u201d Watkins stated. \u201cThe chance to have him coach me is a blessing. All of the data that he is aware of and going beneath his wing, I can be taught a lot.
\u201cHe\u2019s a cool, calm and picked up coach. He\u2019s gonna all the time hold it actual with you and he\u2019s going to push you to be the very best you might be.\u201d
FSU (13-9, 7-4) will definitely want Watkins to be at his greatest Saturday night time. The visiting Cavaliers are the ACC\u2019s hottest staff, having gained seven straight, together with their final three street video games, to take over second place within the convention.
The sport matches up a high-scoring Florida State staff \u2013 the Seminoles are sixth within the convention, scoring 76.6 factors per recreation \u2013 towards the league\u2019s high protection. Virginia holds opponents to 56.9 factors per recreation, the second greatest mark within the nation.
The Seminoles, in the meantime, have been removed from dominant at house, going 7-5 on the Tucker Middle, the place UVa beat them, 67-58, final season.
Watkins might face certainly one of his hardest particular person matchups of the season, doubtlessly matching up with Virginia\u2019s 6-8 Ryan Dunn, an athletic wing and elite defender who leads the ACC in blocked photographs, the staff in rebounding and is second at Virginia in steals.
His new teammates, nonetheless, are assured in Watkins means at each ends of the ground.
\u201cHe\u2019s simply very versatile,\u201d Spears stated. \u201cHe can rating in any respect three ranges. Nice on-ball defender. He\u2019s simply actual stable, actual versatile. Can do all of it, offensively and defensively.\u201d
Win or lose Saturday night time, Spears stated he is aware of the place he and Watkins shall be Sunday. The 2 associates have a day-after-game ritual of going for 60-minute massages at a parlor in downtown Tallahassee.
Mike Barber<\/strong> (804) 649-6546
mbarber@timesdispatch.com<\/a>
College of Virginia and Virginia Tech Sports activities Reporter
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