Last week, Jamir Watkins decided to not return to college and move forward with his NBA Draft process. That’s a big decision for a young athlete who is making the transition from college to becoming a professional. Certainly, Florida State basketball fans are sad to see a talented player leave after two wonderful seasons in Tallahassee. However, Watkins has shown to be NBA-ready and his opportunity to play at the next level is now.
Seminole fans were able to witness the evolution of a gifted basketball player over the last two seasons. Jamir Watkins transferred to the program as a raw talent who wanted to play a bigger role. While he was an impactful player at VCU, he blossomed into a star playing under Leonard Hamilton at Florida State.
Watkins' two seasons at Florida State were for his development. He came to the program and left a better scorer, defender, and leader. Playing for the Seminoles allowed Watkins to stand out as one of the best wings in the ACC. Playing in a conference next to notable talents like RJ Davis, Hunter Sallis, and others, Watkins continued to become a fan favorite in his conference.
The development of Jamir Watkins was glaring. Over the past few seasons, the world saw Watkins capitalize on his talent. As a scorer, he became a three-way threat with his ability to attack the basket as well as torch the defense from the perimeter. During the 2024-25 season, Watkins attempted 5.2 three-point attempts per game, which is the most he’s had in a season. As an offensive player, Watkins's confidence to score anywhere on the floor was on full display.
As great offensively as Watkins became, the same applies to the defensive end. There are not many guards in college basketball who were elite on defense like Watkins was. Sure, some were great perimeter defenders. However, Watkins showed his versatility on that end by being a great help defender while also protecting the basket. Watkins was a tone-setter on defense for Florida State throughout his tenure. His energy on that end of the floor ignited the team to compete at a higher level.
With Jamir Watkins’ game on full display, it caught more eyes of several NBA scouts. Experts see the high upside from Watkins as he prepares for the 2025 NBA Draft. With that being said, he’s projected to be one of the players whose names will be heard on June 25.
The process of preparing for the Draft has been eventful for Jamir Watkins. He may be traveling from city to city for team workouts, but his game remains the same. Watkins was also a standout factor during the NBA Draft combine, as he had one game where he recorded 23 points along with five steals. During the process of being drafted, players must stay hungry as they’re fighting for their name to be called. Although Watkins’ college career alone gives him an advantage, he still has something to prove leading up to the Draft.
As Watkins transitions to the NBA, he has a chance to join the other former Seminoles who have made a name for themselves. Players like Scottie Barnes, Malik Beasley, Terrance Mann, and others have all been impactful for their teams during their careers, which is thanks in part to the preparation from Leonard Hamilton. Watkins has a chance to add to the Florida State tree of talents who blossomed into great players in the NBA. When his name is called, he will be drafted to the right organization that will take his game to the next level.