Jamir Watkins, currently ranked No. 59 on ESPN’s Top 100, has established himself as one of the nation’s top returning college players. After averaging 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds in his first season with Florida Sate after transferring from VCU, and Watkins was named All-ACC Honorable Mention.
Watkins is gearing up for his final season at FSU, where he has emerged as the team leader. Last season, he showed he was much more than a defender, he had 19 consecutive double-figure scoring games, as the 6-foot-7 wing continues to prove his versatility on both ends of the floor. After initially declaring for the NBA draft in April 2024 and entering the transfer portal in May, Watkins decided to return to Florida State, as he seeks to improve his game further with another season under Head Coach Leonard Hamilton.
The Trenton, NJ native recently sat down with HoopsHype to discuss his decision to withdraw from the NBA draft, his development as a player, and his expectations for the upcoming season.
Jamir Watkins: It was good feedback. Definitely what I was expecting to get. It was just about me maturing and my reads on the court as far as ball screens and stuff, staying consistent as a shooter and stuff like that. It was definitely good feedback, though.
JW: Just me having a conversation with my family, my coach, and staff, people in my inner circle just helping me out. I just felt as though me coming back another year would put me in a way better position, being able to mature more, as far as on and off the court in Boston. Shooting, being consistent. Just me taking another year out, going back into it, I feel like I will have, I might have an advantage going back into it for next year.
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JW: I’ve always seen about Florida State and their style of play. I know they are big on big guards, and they push their wings as far as being versatile. So me coming into it, I just knew it would fit me well, you know, their style of play and Coach Hamilton, the way he likes to play. So me coming over, it was just a no-brainer for me.
JW: I would say passing, really just getting other guys going. I feel like the more I get other guys going, it’s gonna come back to me.
JW: I think I hang my hat on just playing defense, guarding the best guy. But something that’s gonna stand out this year, really my rebounding – just getting stops, racking up stops, finishing it with a defensive rebound.
JW: Yeah, he was behind me with it. So me coming back was like a no-brainer for me.
JW: Just to get a feel for it, have all options open. With the year that we had, I just wanted to keep all my options open, even if I thought about coming back, which I did.
JW: I would say my parents for sure. Just seeing them work every day kind of motivated me, and it got me to the position I’m in now. I would say my hometown as well, Trenton, just the area we grew up in kind of pushed me to be who I am now, molding me into the man I am today.
JW: I would say defensively, guys like Herb Jones, Jaden McDaniels, just the 3-and-D guys that come in, fill a role, guard the best guys, and hang their hat on defense.
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JW: I would say last year I did a little bit, but now I really don’t. It really doesn’t matter because I’ve seen guys that got drafted who were nowhere on the boards or where people had them in mock drafts. That kind of stuff really doesn’t matter; it depends on the work you put in.
JW: Oh, I feel like as long as I work hard and just go as hard as I can, I could put myself in any position I want to be in. So me just playing my hardest, going out there, giving it my all, making sure my teammates know I got their back, I feel like I could be a first-rounder, maybe even get into the lottery.
JW: I would say shooting guard, small forward, swingman, yeah.
JW: Yeah, I like it. Being able to rebound and push is everything. That’s what I think the NBA is transitioning to.
JW: I just think it depends on how much work you put in. You can be whatever you want to be. Me being a two-way guy has been my journey. I used to be really skinny, so being physical didn’t work for me when I was younger. Everyone was either stronger or smaller but could get underneath me, so I had to learn how to shoot. In high school, I grew into my body, got stronger, started taking pride in defense, and played as a big man at times. In college, I realized everyone’s talented and strong, so I had to find my way. That’s when I started doing the dirty work, getting extra possessions, diving on the floor for loose balls. That’s how I played at VCU, and it molded me into the two-way player I am now.
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JW: I don’t really have a pro comparison. I leave that to the Internet and other people. I don’t compare myself to anyone.
JW: I wanna say Kobe, big Kobe guy. Michael Jordan, LeBron, KD is my favorite player, and I’m going with Shaq to follow.
JW: My GOAT is KD. The way he play makes the game look so easy, and it’s really not. The way he makes it look is nowhere near as easy as it is. He’s so consistent. He’s been doing the same thing for so long. Shooting threes before it was the thing to do. Every elbow jumper, every dribble – it’s like he’s working out during the game. It’s so effortless but also so precise.
