BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Jamir Watkins, a two-time All-ACC selection in his two seasons at Florida State, has been selected by the Washington Wizards with the 43rd selection in the 2025 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Watkins became the 52^nd Seminole to hear his named called in the history of the NBA Draft and the first Seminole selected by Washington since the Wizards drafted Chris Singleton in the first round of the 2017 draft.

“With the 43^rd pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select Jamir Watkins of Florida State University,” said Deputy NBA Commissioner Mark Tatum as he announced Watkins’ basketball dreams coming true.

Watkins was the 13th player selected on the second night of the draft. He became Florida State’s first NBA Draft selection since 2021 when Scottie Barnes was selected with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2021 draft. Watkins is the third Seminole to be drafted by the Wizards organization following Singleton in 2017 and Dean Shaffer in 1985.

Watkins averaged a career-high 18.4 points (first on the team), 5.7 rebounds (second), 2.4 assists (second), and 1.2 steals (second), while making 53 3-point shots (first) during the 2024-25 season. He was the only Seminole to start all 32 games in 2025 and started each of the 65 games during his two-year Florida State career. Watkins was an All-ACC Second-Team selection by the coaches and selected media and earned All-Southeast District Second-Team honors from the NABC following the 2024-25 season.

“I worked out for the Wizards last month,” said Watkins after his selection. “I really like how they have a young team with a coach in his second year.  I feel that I will fit in well with them because they love my defense and how hard I play.”

He finished his Florida State career ranked ninth in program history with 346 free throws made (5.3 FTM/Game) and tied for 12^th in school history with 450 free throws attempted (6.9 FTA/Game). Watkins scored 1,104 points in just two seasons and 65 games played as a Seminole. He scored his 1000^th career point at Florida State in his 60^th career game as a Seminole making him the 11^th fastest player (tied) in school history to score 1,000 or more career points.

Watkins played his first two seasons at VCU and his final two collegiate seasons at Florida State.

“I’m a huge fan of him (Jamir Watkins) on and off of the court,” said ESPN Draft Analyst Bobby Marks. “He pulled out of the draft last year and decides to go back to Florida State and I asked him why – it’s because he wanted to graduate and be the first person in his family to graduate. He’s an electrifying defender.  We saw him in Chicago at the (NBA Draft) Combine and he had five steals in the first half.  He’s a long athletic wing; he can defend. He’s going to a Washington team that needs some athleticism and he will certainly add that to that team.”

Watkins scored 1,626 career points in 126 career games and averaged 12.9 points per game for his four-year collegiate career.

Watkins is a native of Trenton, New Jersey. He earned his bachelor’s degree in social science from Florida State on May 3, 2025.