February 4, 2004
The Misunderstandings of Darius Washington
Reprinted from Rivals.com
Written by Robert Sumpter, FlaProspects.com

    There's an old saying, “whatever doesn't break you will make you stronger”.  Whoever made that statement definitely had Orlando Edgewater’s Darius Washington in mind. 

    Over the past three years, no athlete in Florida has been scrutinized more than the 6'1 All-American shooting guard from Edgewater High School. 

    Whether he's shooting too much, or arguing every call, Washington has the infamous label of being the “Bad Boy” in the state. After another stellar year in the making, we have decided to examine the myth of Darius Washington. 

    To fully understand Washington, you have to understand where he comes from. He was born while his father was still playing basketball for Edgewater himself.

    Washington grew up going to basketball games; whether to the gym at Edgewater or traveling to see his father play professionally with the Jacksonville Shooters of the USBL, basketball is all he has ever known.

    At a very early age, Washington started playing hoops.  While most kids were outside playing with their friends or watching cartoons, Washington was working on his jump shot. By third grade, he was learning how to drive to the basket and create his own shots. His hard work started to show as he, along with Florida-signee, Taureen Green, led an Orlando-area team to a National Junior Championship at the age of 10. 

    From there, Washington continued his winning ways while leading his middle school team to a county championship.  Just as he was heading into high school, Washington was already cementing his spot as one of the better basketball players in the nation and the premier basketball player in the state.

    For most students, high school is considered the best years of their lives, and even better for a top athlete. They are usually loved by many and respected by all, but Washington isn’t.

    If only he knew that feeling.

    Washington has had a career that has him loved and respected throughout the nation, but hated in his own state.  For all of Washington’s greatness, there are a few factors that go against him. 

    First, Washington happens to be a top basketball player in the premier football state in America. Florida has had a couple of superstar players, most recently Vince Carter, but the state has yet to produce premier recruited players on the national level on a daily basis.

    Most people would rather talk about an up-and-coming junior varsity football player than a potential McDonald's All-American basketball player in the state of Florida. 

    Secondly, Washington has a little pizzazz about him that we are not used to seeing on the court. We mistake his emotion and flare for poor sportsmanship and a bad attitude.

    I have heard all of the stories about the complaining and the "crying" that he does on the court, but for everyone who says he complains and cries I ask you this.

    How many of you have actually seen him play?  Not just from the stands, but on the floor. 

    Every time he steps on the court, he finds himself as the central focus of every opposing team. He is roughed up the entire game as opposing teams maul, elbow, trip, and in some cases, push him to the floor. While he is viewed as this big crybaby on the court from the public, for all the abuse he takes, I believe Washington should receive a sportsmanship award for not getting into fights.

    Finally, Washington is criticized for not signing with any of the top state teams.

    Anytime you have a hometown hero, it's almost expected that he sign with a state team such as Florida State or Florida, in particular. With those programs on the rise, it's almost expected that he chooses one of the big in-state schools, but Washington took another route, committing to the University of Memphis. 

    While Green, Jason Rich and Cornelius Ingram play their basketball for Florida and Florida State respectively, Washington will be playing for a team that has the potential to defeat an in-state school.

    With all the negative that is said about Washington, let me throw out a few stats for you. 

    Washington has only lost 18 games in his entire high school career. He holds a 3.1 grade point average. Last year, he led the state in scoring averaging over 32 points a game. This year, while his scoring has gone down, his all-around game has picked up. He leads his team in scoring, steals, and rebounding.  Yes, rebounding. He is second in assists. He the biggest reason Edgewater is currently ranked third in the nation by Rivals.com, and why Florida basketball is starting to get respect. 

    Yet, for all of his accolades, Washington will probably not win the coveted Mr. Basketball award for the state's top player. Last year, he finished second to Lakeland Kathleen's Chris Richards. This year, he has already lost the race for the district player of the year to Jason Rich of Orlando Dr. Phillips.

    I will admit myself, that I also believed the stories about Washington until I got a chance to really see him play. For everyone who rips this kid about his play, all of them would love to have his ability. Hopefully at the end of the year, Washington will gain a measure of success with a state championship. 

    Win or lose, Washington deserves the respect of everyone in the state as he has helped to champion the way of putting Florida basketball back on the map