PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Former Nittany Lion Mike Watkins has signed a contract to play professionally for the Cimarrones del Choco in Colombia. The 2020 Penn State graduate will join his new team in Quibdó in early October.
"Playing basketball professionally is a dream come true for me and my goal is to continue to work hard at the next level," said Watkins from his home in Philadelphia. "I am grateful to the Cimarrones del Choco for providing me with this opportunity and I look forward to contributing on the court and in the community. There are so many who have supported me as I went after this with everything I had and I share this success with them!"
Watkins completed his career as one of only three Nittany Lions with 900 career rebounds, second-all-time with 953, and 1,000 career points (1,169). One of the most effective rim protectors in Penn State history, his 265 career blocked shots rank second on PSU's all-time list and he also joined the company of other big men on the Big Ten Conference career top-10 list.
Selected to the 2018 Big Ten All-Defensive Team, Watkins also made his mark on the offensive end for the Nittany Lions. He averaged 12.1 points per game during the 2017-18 season and connected on 68.5 percent of his field goal attempts. While that single-season mark ranked second on the Big Ten's all-games chart, his 70.0 percent in league games was the top figure that year and stands third all-time in Big Ten history.
Watkins made an introduction as a freshman, swatting away 90 shots during 2016-17 and setting the Big Ten Conference Tournament single-game record with eight (2017). His 59.0 percent field goal percentage that year rose to the top of the Penn State career list and he completed his career in the same spot (59.7 percent).
For his four-year career, Watkins had 33 double-doubles, second-highest total all-time, which included freshman-record eight in 2016-17. He led the Nittany Lions in blocked shots all four years, with three listings among the program's top 10, and was the top rebounder in three seasons.
In addition to his other statistical milestones, Watkins finished his career with 558 rebounds in Big Ten games, passing John Amaechi (1993-95). He also had the distinction of joining Jesse Arnelle as the only other Nittany Lion to collect at least 500 rebounds by the end of his sophomore season, tying Arnelle with 525.
Watkins signed with the Arete Sports Agency in spring 2020.
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