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Boys Basketball: Dez Washington’s Meteoric Rise Started Just Two Years Ago; Blair Senior Dominating in a Sport He Wasn’t Initially Sure About

Published on Friday, January 26, 2018 | 6:11 am
 

Dez Washington’s Meteoric Rise Started Just Two Years Ago

Dez-Washington-2If you thought Dez Washington’s 22 points and 13 rebounds per game last year were impressive, you were right.

If Washington leading a program to heights it hadn’t seen since President Ronald Reagan’s first year in office with 25 wins and a trip to the CIF-SS Division 4AA title game was a great feat, you would be correct.

The Washington-led Vikings defeated Ontario, Flintridge Prep, Jurupa Valley and Woodcrest Christian in the CIF-SS Division 4AA playoffs last year before falling to West Torrance in the finals at Azusa Pacific.

He went on to win the ‘Wooden Award’ for being named the CIF Southern Section Division 4 Player of the Year for that great run his junior year.

That also encompassed, by the way, a CIF State victory over Palisades in a game that Washington’s put-back at the buzzer earned the Vikings the two-point victory over the Dolphins, a team which had just competed in the CIF-SS Open Division (the highest level).

Next, they took highly-seeded Burbank to the wire before falling in the state playoffs in overtime, a game that was also on the road.

Fast forward to the 2017-18 season, and Washington and first-year coach Jelani Gardner have Blair at 16-5 overall, and 4-1 in league.

The 6-foot-7 senior has upped his offense by 10 points to nearly 32 points per game and 14 rebounds.

They sit just one-game back of perennial Rio Hondo League champion La Canada with a couple weeks to go.

Now, after taking all that information in, consider this: Dez Washington didn’t realize he wanted to play basketball until he was a tenth grader in high school.

Dez and his teammates at Blair
Dez and his teammates at Blair

He grew, in the summer of his sophomore year, from 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-5, and all of a sudden shots and the mechanics of basketball started to become easy for him.

Washington loved playing football and thought that was his destiny.

In his two years at a school, which admittedly have futile sports programs, Dez and his boys have a combined record of 41-13 overall, and 11-4 in Rio Hondo League play.

The best part about this kid, at least to this reporter, is that he isn’t someone who finds it necessary to disrespect an opponent, kick a player when they’re down or talk trash in any way.

He’s from that old-school Derek Jeter, Tim Duncan, Larry Fitzgerald and Peyton Manning wing, where your play is your talking.

It might be the exception to the rule, but Washington lives out that credo.

“I don’t see what good it is to disrespect someone by talking trash, and especially when they’re not disrespecting me,” Washington said. “I like to go out, respect the game, which includes my opponents, give everything I have to my team and then allow that to do my talking.”

Washington, coming of that remarkable run in 2016-17, where he led the school to heights it hadn’t seen, and a postseason in which he upped his points and rebounds from even his solid numbers from the regular season had much to look forward to in 2017-18, we thought.

He had the reigning Pasadena Sports Now co-Basketball Coach of the Year Alon Margalit back, as well as Dallas Murray, Gabe Snow and others.

Blair did, though, lose three remarkable senior guards, none of which was over 5-foot-10.

Jack Dakan, someone we call ‘Mr. Clutch,’ who hit 3-pointers from all over the place, but especially when the Vikings needed it most graduated, as did quality senior Jordan Hall and one of the most impressive kids this reporter has ever covered in Caleb Smith.

That comes with the territory, though.

Margalit, though, was offered a job at Cantwell-Sacred Heart and Gabriel Snow moved back to Australia, which in the beginning was a punch in the gut to the program, because Snow did so many things well.

Many believed, or it was at least rumored that Washington might join Bryce Hamilton, Darius Brown II, Darius Mason and the boys up at Pasadena High and create their own prep version of the Dream Team.

But when Jelani Gardner, the 1994 California State Player of the Year from St. John Bosco was hired, Washington was all in.

Gardner won a CIF title his senior year in Bellflower, and played his college ball at the University of California at Berkeley.

He went on to compete for several teams in Europe had instant credibility based on his resume throughout his life, including some time coaching at both Duarte and La Salle.

But the relationship didn’t start as smoothly as it could have.

Gardner, though, the adult, took a mature approach to the situation.

In their very first game together in spring in a game against Duarte, the Vikings were facing a zone defense and Gardner has multiple sets to attack the opposing defensive scheme.

Washington, though, made it clear he was all about freelancing and instead of getting in Dez’s face, Gardner thought, “OK, I’ll let him do it his way and see how it works out.”

Well, it ‘worked out’ to be a loss and Washington was humbled.

To his credit, Washington heard Gardner out, understood his theory and process of how his new coach approaches each situation on a basketball court and the two are much better off because of it.

“I knew he had done everything I’d like to do and when I listened, it all made sense,” Washington said. “He knows what he’s talking about and the entire team has bought into Coach Gardner’s message.”

His coach appreciated Washington’s change of heart, but what was his first thoughts on seeing Dez play?

Said Gardner: “When I was coaching at Duarte, we played against Dez in a spring league game at AGBU. My first impression was that he was raw, that he needed to learn the fundamentals. However, after working with him, he’s a beautiful athlete. He runs fast and smooth, and never tires. He jumps really well and is very nimble and light on his feet. He can guard all 5 positions on the floor, and he attracts the ball. Dez scores 25 and 14 rebounds without demanding the ball.”

As mentioned, Blair athletics struggle mightily, but, behind a very good and supportive new principal, David Ibarra, the seeds are being planted for a resurgence, and the work has been diligent in building the other programs from the ground up.

And to be fair, this will all take time.

But for now, Gardner, Washington and the boys are ‘the show’ at Blair and Washington not only takes pride in that, he said his teammates love giving their school something to root for.

“I’ve had teachers come up to me and tell me that the other kids around the school look up to us, because we’re having success and they can see our hard work paying off,” he said. “That feels really good and we don’t want to let them down. We’re going to do everything we can to win every game we play for ourselves, the school and all the students and teachers.”

Washington credits his mom, Shanna and stepfather Ricky Washington for helping to support him.

“They were there from the start and supported even when I wasn’t good,” Washington said. “They believed in me before I did, and I am very thankful for that.”

Washington has seen interest from UCSB, Concordia, Montana State, Sacramento State, Cal State East Bay and others.

His dream school as a kid is Kentucky.

Gardner, who played 12 years of professional basketball in Europe believes Dez can one day play pro ball himself, and with his 6-foot-7 frame, raw natural talent and attitude, that certainly isn’t out of the question.

So, we asked Gardner about the neat future and what a college or university would get if they signed Washington to join their program.

“A college would be getting a winner. A guy that doesn’t need plays called for him to be successful,” Gardner said. “He can run the break with the best of them. He rebounds on the offensive end very well, and he can shoot and drive. His most promising skill is he can be an elite defender. He has great feet, length, and can really guard when engaged.”

But there is more to Dez than just that, according to his coach.

“I appreciate and respect the fact that he’s allowed me to coach him and challenge him to become better. I believe he’s become a better player and person, and he’s helped me become a better coach,” Gardner said.

Washington’s high game in points is 40 against Marshall this season, and his dream is to win a Rio Hondo League and CIF-SS championship.

The Vikings would have to knock off the Spartans tomorrow (Friday) in La Canada’s own gym to even have a chance.

As far as the playoffs go, Blair is playing very solid basketball and there is no reason to think they can’t make a run, especially with the production they get from Dallas Murray, Favour Ihiaso, Don Guyton, Zavior Smith Chris Babby and all the Vikings’ players.

Most elite players want the ball late in a close game and Washington does as well, but he also believes any of his teammates can make a big play at any point and that it makes Blair a much more balanced and dangerous team.

His defining moment or lasting legacy won’t be if they beat La Canada or not, it will be and is already cemented that he led a dormant program at a school known for its athletic struggles to the highest levels possible, and along with his past and current teammates, that is something they can take to their graves and remain eternally proud.

Lastly, when asked what he hopes his legacy or reputation will be when he’s gone and doing bigger and better things, Washington didn’t hesitate.

“I hope I’m remembered as someone who gave everything to a school, program and teammates I loved and that I never gave anything less than my absolute best. My dream is to play pro ball, but for now, I am happy to play every night with my brothers at Blair and for a coach I know has my back on and off the court,” he said.

Quotable:

Blair coach Jelani Gardner: “Dez is a good kid, he has good heart. He’s very unselfish as a teammate, and that’s one reason why he’s so successful. He wants to win, and is willing to sacrifice for his team to be successful. He has a responsibility to score, rebound, and block shots. He has to play with energy and be physical every night. He’s been very consistent in his responsibilities this season for us.”

Former Blair point guard Jack Dakan: “Dez is a hard-working player and reaches his full potential every game. As a friend, Dez is the type of guy to be there for all his brothers and have their backs in any situation. Along with living with Dez,, we have become closer and pushed each other to become better in basketball. Being one of the stars on the team and receiving all of the accolades last year, teams know and see him as a major threat. There is a lot of pressure put on Dez, but he plays his best when pressure presents itself. In order for Blair to be successful, Dez needs to continue to be a threat as he is, which will open the floor up for his teammates.”

Former Blair coach/current Cantwell-Sacred Heart coach Alon Margalit: “What makes him special, to me, is his mentality. He plays his best against the best competition in the biggest moments. He is never afraid. He is also very versatile and an underrated passer. He is a young man that really took Blair basketball to an elite level.”

Blair senior Dallas Murray: “He plays with more freedom is more efficient and much better on defense. We count on him to block shots, score inside, and guard their biggest guy. We can count on everybody but he’s our guy and he’s a mismatch for anybody.”

Getting To Know Dez Washington:
Favorite Sports Team: Cavs
Favorite Athlete: Lebron
Favorite Movie: Rollbounce
Favorite Musical Artist: Tupac
Musical Artist Some Might Be Surprised I Like: Linkin Park
Famous Person I’d Most Want A Conversation With: Lebron James

 

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