Watkins attended The Phelps School, an all-boys college preparatory school located in Malvern, Pennsylvania and prior to that Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School in Philadelphia. During his junior year at MCSCS reached the 2014 PIAA tournament championship game while racking up 17 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks in a runner-up finish to Lincoln Park. He averaged 11.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.0 blocks during a junior campaign in which he totaled 17 double-doubles that year. Watkins transferred to The Phelps School in his senior year. Watkins averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 6.5 blocks per game during his final high school season and helps The Phelps School win a state championship.
Recruiting
Rated as a 4-star recruit and the 3rd best recruit from Pennsylvania in the class of 2015 by ESPN.com, Watkins was ranked no. 89 in his class by ESPN. He signed with Penn State on November 13, 2014, as part of the best recruiting class in school history.
College career
Watkins redshirted his first year. His redshirt freshman season Watkins averaged just over 8 points per game playing in 33 games starting 24 of the games. He was twice named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on December 19, 2016 and January 16, 2017. In his sophomore season, Watkins averaged 12.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per contest. He had a 22-point, 11 rebounds and 7 block performance in a late loss to Wisconsin. Watkins was named to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team. Watkins played 27 games as a junior before suffering a season-ending leg injury against Michigan in February 2018. He averaged 7.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Watkins scored his 1,000th point against Central Connecticut State on December 23, 2019. On February 11, 2020, Watkins scored a season-high 19 points in a 88–76 win against Purdue. He was suspended for the final game of the season versus Northwestern for a violation of team rules, which was later revealed to be a DUI arrest. As a senior, Watkins averaged 9.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocked shots per game.
Career statistics
College
Personal life
Watkins is the fourth-oldest among eight children of Alphonso Griffin and Rebecca Watkins. Watkins suffered from depression and bipolar disorder, in June 2018 Watkins was hospitalized after having suicidal thoughts. Watkins has a lengthy criminal record prior to his diagnosis. Watkins was charged with disorderly conduct on October 1, 2017. According to State College police, Watkins punched a man in the face on September 29, 2017, after being confronted about cutting to the front of the line at McDonald's. Watkins was also charged with possession of marijuana paraphernalia in June 2017 and charged for smashing a window at Baby's Burgers and Shakes in Downtown State College in September 2016. Since these charges Watkins has apologized saying "Sorry I have brought negative attention to Penn State University..."
