Ibi Watson Explained

Ibi Watson
Position:Shooting guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:5
Weight Lbs:195
Team:Free agent
Nationality:American
Birth Date:6 January 1998
Birth Place:Atlanta, Georgia
High School:
College:
Draftyear:2021
Career Start:2021
Years1:20212022
Team1:College Park Skyhawks
Years2:2023–2024
Team2:Borås Basket
Years3:2024
Team3:Ottawa BlackJacks
Highlights:

Ibrahim Davis Watson-Boye (born January 6, 1998) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). He played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers and Michigan Wolverines.

High school career

During his first two years of high school, Watson attended Athens High School in The Plains, Ohio. He was a basketball teammate of Joe Burrow.[1] For his junior season, Watson transferred to Pickerington High School Central in Pickerington, Ohio.[2] He averaged 19.2 points through two years at the school and earned First Team Division I All-Ohio honors as a senior.[3] He initially committed to playing college basketball for Michigan over offers from Dayton and Indiana, among others.[4]

College career

As a freshman at Michigan, Watson served as a reserve and received limited minutes.[5] He averaged 2.2 points in 5.2 minutes per game as a sophomore, helping his team to the 2018 National Championship Game.[6] After the season, Watson transferred to the University of Dayton and found a great home. Watson sat out his next year due to transfer rules.[7] During the 2019-2020 season, Watson served as the sixth man and averaged 10.1 points per game and shot nearly 40% from three-point range. On December 23, 2019, he scored a career-high 30 points in an 81–53 win over Grambling State.[8] As a junior, he was a critical piece in helping Dayton achieve a Top 3 NCAA ranking, and a program-record 29 wins.[9]

As a senior, Watson was named to the Third Team All-Atlantic 10.[10] He finished 10th in the conference in scoring (15.8) and third in three-point field-goal percentage and three-pointers made (.427, 61-143).[11]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Watson joined the Atlanta Hawks for the 2021 NBA Summer League, posting 8 points in 20 minutes on 3-7 shooting at his debut, a 85-83 loss against the Boston Celtics.[12] On October 12, he signed a contract with the Hawks,[13] but was waived three days later.[14] In October 2021, Watson signed with the College Park Skyhawks.[15] On December 10, 2022, he was waived by College Park.[16]

On August 1, 2023, Watson signed with Borås Basket of the Swedish Basketball League.[17]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17| style="text-align:left;"| Michigan| 19 || 1 || 4.4 || .345 || .056 || .750 || .4 || .1 || .1 || .0 || 1.3|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| Michigan| 26 || 0 || 5.2 || .389 || .323 || .545 || .8 || .3 || .3 || .0 || 2.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Dayton| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| Redshirt|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Dayton| 31 || 1 || 22.5 || .498 || .393 || .845 || 2.4 || 1.3 || .2 || .3 || 10.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Dayton| 24 || 24 || 37.1 || .467 || .416 || .757 || 4.1 || 1.9 || .5 || .3 || 15.7|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 100 || 26 || 18.1 || .465 || .378 || .776 || 2.0 || 1.0 || .3 || .2 || 7.7

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jablonski . David . Dayton's Ibi Watson cheering for Heisman frontrunner Joe Burrow . . January 29, 2021 . December 10, 2019.
  2. Web site: Rabinowitz . Bill . Pickerington Central product Ibi Watson thrives since joining Dayton basketball team . . January 29, 2021 . March 4, 2020.
  3. Web site: Dayton adds Michigan transfer Ibi Watson . . January 29, 2021 . April 25, 2018.
  4. Web site: Quinn . Brendan F. . 2016 SG Ibi Watson commits to Michigan basketball . MLive . January 9, 2021 . July 28, 2015.
  5. Web site: McMann . Aaron . Ibi Watson just set Michigan basketball's vertical jump record . MLive . January 29, 2021 . August 4, 2017.
  6. Web site: Schoch . Matt . Ibi Watson relishes time at Michigan, but finds 'great home' at high-flying Dayton . . January 29, 2021 . February 10, 2020.
  7. Web site: Baumgardner . Nick . Ex-Michigan basketball wing Ibi Watson transferring to Dayton . . January 29, 2021 . April 25, 2018.
  8. Web site: Jablonski . David . Ibi Watson scores career-high 30 as Dayton Flyers win 10th game . . January 29, 2021 . December 24, 2019.
  9. Web site: Jablonski . David . Trio of experienced guards makes Dayton a contender again . . January 29, 2021 . November 8, 2020.
  10. News: Johnson . Andre . Multiple Dayton Flyers take home A-10 honors . August 25, 2021 . Dayton247Now . March 10, 2021.
  11. News: Jablonski . David . Atlantic 10 awards: Four Dayton Flyers honored by conference . August 25, 2021 . . March 10, 2021.
  12. Web site: Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks Aug 8, 2021 Box Scores NBA.com. NBA.com. August 8, 2021.
  13. Atlanta Hawks. 1447955973038120960. Roster Update: We’ve signed guard Ibi Watson.. ATLHawks. October 12, 2021. October 23, 2021.
  14. Web site: Atlanta Hawks Request Waivers on Johnny Hamilton, DaQuan Jeffries and Ibi Watson. NBA.com. October 15, 2021. October 23, 2021.
  15. News: College Park Skyhawks fall in preseason scrimmage . November 3, 2021 . . October 30, 2021.
  16. Web site: AJ Lawson Returns to College Park Skyhawks. NBA.com. December 10, 2022. December 10, 2022.
  17. Web site: Ibi Watson-Boye signs at Boras . Eurobasket . March 21, 2024 . August 1, 2023.