Yolanda Watkins was born inDecatur, Alabama during the 1970s.[1][2] Religion and basketball were her childhood interests.[3][4] In 1989, Watkins began her girls basketball experience atDecatur High School.[5] With Decatur, Watkins won the 6A division as anAlabama High School Athletic Association competitor in 1990 and was the Most Valuable Player.[6] It was the first time that Decatur won the 6A event held by the AHSAA.[7] Her team re-won the 6A division in 1991 and 1992.[8][9] With Decatur, she had the nicknames "Yo-Yo" and "Yo".[10][2]
Overall, Watkins had 1995 rebounds while accumulating 2801 points by 1992.[11] That year, Watkins led these two career categories in girls basketball for Alabama.[4] Watkins continued to lead in rebounds until she was surpassed byCandace Byrd in 2000.[12] During the early 2020s, she was in the top five for most rebounds and top thirty for most points by an AHSAA girls basketball player.[5] As an American girls basketball player, she was number two for most rebounds in 1992.[13] By the mid 2000s, her career rebounds was in the top five as aNational Federation of State High School Associations player.[14]
As anAAU competitor, Watkins participated at the 1990AAU Junior Olympic Games.[15] That year, she won the 16U title with the Alabama All Stars.[16] In 1991, she won the 18U event with the Tennessee CJs.[17] Watkins was named Most Valuable Player for both of these national AAU events.[18][19] In 1992, she wanted to become anOlympian while she was "an instructor at the Blue-Gray girls basketball camp".[2]
She underwent surgery andrehabilitation throughout 1995 for her knee injury.[25] Watkins resumed playing in 1996.[26] She experiencedtendinitis the following year.[27] After ending her time at Alabama in 1997, her 1096 rebounds and 187 blocks had remained as Alabama career records by 2017.[28] Watkins's block record was surpassed byAshley Knight in 2019.[29] During 2023, she was leading in rebounds while her 1778 career points was in the top five.[23]
Watkins was on the High School All-America Girls Basketball Team in 1990 and 1991 forParade.[36][37] She was selected for a Kodak All-America team in 1992.[38] From the Alabama Sports Writers Association, Watkins was player of the year in 1991 for 6A schools.[39]
In 2003, Watkins became part of the 30-Year Anniversary Team created by the Birmingham Tip-Off Club.[46] She became a SEC Great for theSoutheastern Conference in 2004.[47] That year, Watkins was also one of the top Alabama participants at the SEC Tournament according toThe Tennessean.[48] She joined the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.[49] During 2022, Alabama chose her as one of "50 women who have blazed the trails and become legends in athletics".[50]
^"Ranburne rallies late to win girls state title".The Dothan Eagle. The Associated Press. March 18, 1991. p. 3-B.
^"Decatur claims third straight 6A title".The Montgomery Advertiser. Associated Press reports. March 15, 1992. p. 5B.
^Aiello, John (March 12, 1992). "Carver girls await game with Decatur".The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 1B.
^"Watkins named best in state".The Dothan Eagle. The Associated Press. March 25, 1992. p. 1-B.
^"Rebounding record broken".The Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus, Georgia. Staff, wire reports. February 9, 2000. p. B2.
^abBennett, Alan (April 25, 1992). "Top female basketball player to go with Crimson Tide".The Prattville Progress. p. Thirteen.
^"Record Book Result".National Federation of State High School Associations. Basketball - Girls Individual Offense Most Rebounds Career. RetrievedJanuary 13, 2024.
^"Starters fall to Alabama".Record-Journal. Meriden, Connecticut. July 8, 1990. p. D-11.
^"Top prospect offers firm commitment to Alabama".The Montgomery Advertiser. August 4, 1991. p. 5B.
^"CJs win national AAU basketball title".The Tennessean. July 7, 1991. p. 2-C.
