He played college basketball player for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive team in 2018.

During his junior year at MCSCS he reached the 2014 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament championship game, racking up 17 points, 17 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a runner-up finish to Lincoln Park.

[11] 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.

[9][12] On September 30, 2020, Watkins signed his first contract, with Cimarrones del Choco of the Baloncesto Profesional Colombiano.

[13] In 2021–22, Watkins was playing forward and center for Hapoel Haifa in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.

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.