ROCKET WATTS NEWS

Watts scores 18 as Oakland downs Purdue Fort Wayne 75-65 in Horizon League Tournament

Rocket Watts scored 18 points off of the bench to lead the Oakland Golden Grizzlies past the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons 75-65 in the Horizon League Tournament

MARCH 8 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starts in return Thursday Watts (concussion) got the start Thursday and finished with four points (1-6 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds and two steals over 29 minutes of action in a win over Wright State...

Impact Watts was only forced to miss a game after suffering a concussion last week. The Mississippi State transfer struggled to get his shot going in his return but has played a key role for the Golden Grizzlies, averaging 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists over 26.9 minutes per contest.

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Lands in concussion protocol Watts won't play Friday against Detroit Mercy due to a concussion, Tony Paul of the DetroitNews.com reports.

Impact Watts ran into a screen late in Wednesday's game against IUPUI and will be sidelined for the third time over Oakland's past four games. He's started all 26 of his appearances and is averaging 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 26.8 minutes per game, so his absence figures to be a heavy blow to the Golden Grizzlies.

FEBRUARY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Oakland defeats IUPUI 85-81

Trey Townsend and Jalen Moore scored 23 points apiece as Oakland beat IUPUI 85-81

FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Spear's double-double leads Robert Morris over Oakland 68-63

Kahliel Spear finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds to power Robert Morris to a 68-63 victory over Oakland

JANUARY 29, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

House scores 32 to propel Oakland over Detroit Mercy 76-67

Jalen House scored 32 points to lead Oakland to a 76-67 victory over Detroit Mercy

JANUARY 24, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Moore's 20 help Oakland knock off Wright State 75-73

Led by Jalen Moore's 20 points and a 3-pointer by Rocket Watts from the right corner with 12.6 seconds left, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies defeated the Wright State Raiders 75-73 on...

JANUARY 8, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Moore's 25 help Oakland take down Green Bay 81-65

Led by Jalen Moore's 25 points, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies defeated the Green Bay Phoenix 81-65 on Saturday

DECEMBER 31, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Michigan State basketball to host Oakland, former PG Rocket Watts in 2022 Michigan State will welcome a familiar face to the Breslin Center this upcoming season

AUGUST 11, 2022 • USATODAY.COM

Gets waiver for 2022-23 Watts has received a waiver from the NCAA and will be immediately eligible in the 2022-23 season, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.

Impact After previously appearing in two seasons with Michigan State and one injury-riddled campaign with Mississippi State, Watts required a waiver from the NCAA to immediately suit up this season for Oakland. Fortunately for the 6-2 point guard, the NCAA has typically been lenient on these matters. Watts has yet to match the 9.0 ppg average he posted in his freshman year with the Spartans, but he could work his way onto the fantasy radar in nationwide formats as a bigger fish in a small pond.

AUGUST 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rocket to the O'Rena: Ex-MSU hoops player Watts transfers to Oakland Rocket Watts played two seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Mississippi State. He will need an NCAA waiver to play right away a...

MAY 29, 2022 • DETROITNEWS.COM

Doubtful for SEC tournament Watts (elbow) is unlikely to return for the SEC tournament after spraining ligaments in his elbow, Theo DeRosa of The Columbus Commercial Dispatch reports.

Impact Watts, who has missed the last six games for Mississippi State, is unlikely to be available for the SEC conference tournament. The 6-foot-2 junior appeared in 19 games this season, averaging 4.4 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.4 steals on 13.4 minutes per game.

MARCH 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Will remain out Watts (elbow) will miss the next two games for Mississippi State as a result of sprained ligaments in his elbow, Andy Kostka of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports.

Impact Watts, who has missed the last five games, will miss Wednesday's game against Auburn and Saturday's game against Texas A&M. The 6-foot-2 junior has appeared in 19 games, averaging 4.4 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.4 steals on 13.4 minutes per game. Head coach, Ben Howland, is hopeful that he will be available for the SEC tournament.

MARCH 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Makes first start of season Watts will start against Louisiana State on Saturday.

Impact This will be Watts' first start to the season, and he moves Shakeel Moore to the bench as a result. Watts is averaging just 4.6 points per game as a second-unit player in 2021-22.

FEBRUARY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nine points in return Watts contributed nine points (3-6 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes during Tuesday's 82-74 1OT loss to Kentucky.

Impact Watts returned from a one-game absence due to COVID-19 protocols. He ended up posting his second-highest point total of the season. Watts will look to build on that going into Saturday's game against a very tough defense in Texas Tech.

JANUARY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to play Tuesday Watts (Covid-19 protocols) is warming up for Tuesday's game against Kentucky, Andy Kostka of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports.

Impact Watts tested negative three consecutive days after displaying symptoms but warmed up with the team and looks ready to go Tuesday. In 13 games this season, Watts is averaging 4.1 points in 13.2 minutes off the bench.

JANUARY 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Will travel for Kentucky game Watts (COVID-19 protocols) will travel for Tuesday's game against Kentucky, Andy Kostka of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports.

Impact Watts showed symptoms, but has yet to test positive for COVID-19. He was held out as a precaution in last Saturday's game against Ole Miss.

JANUARY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out against Ole Miss Watts (undisclosed) will not play Saturday against Mississippi, Stefan Krajisnik of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports.

Impact Watts recently returned from a hip injury and has been averaging 11.6 minutes off the bench over his last five outings. However, he's unavailable Saturday due to an undisclosed issue. Without Watts, Mississippi State will lean on Shakeel Moore and DJ Jeffries at shooting guard.

JANUARY 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to action Wednesday Watts (hip) produced seven points (3-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-1 FT) across nine minutes during Wednesday's 81-68 win over Arkansas.

Impact The junior returned to action following two straight absences with a hip injury and reached the seven-point mark for a first time since Dec. 5. Watts is currently posting 4.0 points across nine games played.

DECEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Warming up with team Watts (hip) is warming up ahead of Wednesday's game against Arkansas, Andy Kostka of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports.

Impact Watts was labeled as day-to-day by coach Ben Howland earlier in the week after receiving a cortisone injection to his hip last week. If Watts does suit up he will likely be limited in some capacity.

DECEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Listed as day-to-day Watts (hip) is day-to-day according to coach Ben Howland, Andy Kostka of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports.

Impact Watts has been participating in practice over the last few days after getting a cortisone injections last week in his hip. At this point we should consider Watts questionable for Wednesday's game against Arkansas. If he can't go then, Watts will hope to suit up by Jan. 5 against Missouri.

DECEMBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Receives cortisone/steroid injection Coach Ben Howland said that Watts got a cortisone/steroid injection in his hip to help swelling, Stefan Krajisnik of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports.

Impact The doctor that Watts saw was the one that performed offseason surgery on his hip. He is going to rest for the next week and come back to see where the swelling is at. Watts' potential return to game action is unclear at this point until they see how the hip responds.

DECEMBER 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Facing multi-game shutdown Coach Ben Howland said Friday that Watts' hip is still hurting, so the junior will be shut down for the next few games, Andy Kostka of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports.

Impact Watts didn't appear in Friday's win over Furman, and the absence was related to his hip injury that forced him to miss the first two games of the season. It's not yet clear when the junior will be able to return.

DECEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Minimal output in debut Watts (hip) tallied just two points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT) and an assist over nine minutes in his season debut Wednesday versus Detroit.

Impact Watts missed the first two games of 2021-22 due to a hip issue but was eased back into action in this one. The junior transfer from Michigan State figures to be a larger part of the rotation once he's up to speed after averaging 8.8 points, 2.8 assists and 1.8 boards a season ago with the Spartans. He typically plays on the ball, which could make him a viable fantasy option when he's full-go.

NOVEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Molinar, Moore scored 19, Mississippi St. tops Detroit 77-64

Iverson Molinar and Shakeel Moore combined for 38 points and Mississippi State defeated Detroit Mercy 77-64

NOVEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS