After spending less than three weeks overseeing a basketball program that had seen defection after defection this spring and summer, new head coach Kevin O’Neill shocked quite a few people when he offered a scholarship to, and received a commitment from, Elizabethtown (KY) High School’s Curtis Washington (6-9, 210). Of course, the person he may have surprised more than any other was Washington.
“It was a real, real, real big surprise,” Washington said. “I wasn’t being recruited heavily at all, and then USC came in with an offer. It was just a blessing from God. I talked to my family, God and my coaches and it was exactly what I wanted and needed.”
While Washington may not have had colleges falling all over themselves to recruit him right now, that doesn’t mean they won’t be kicking themselves later. Washington put up pedestrian numbers during his junior season and Elizabethtown High School, but his dad, Jim, says much of that had to do with a combination of his son playing out of position as well as a lack of a dominant point guard.
“It’s difficult for a big man if the ball can’t get inside,” the elder Washington said.
“In high school, if you’re 6’9, they just throw you in the middle and you don’t really get to showcase all of your abilities,” Curtis said.
But this summer, Washington has done exactly that.
“Nobody knew who Curtis was until he went to the East-West Roundball Classic (in April),” his father said. “He went there, did well and people started wondering who he was. Rick Bolus saw him, liked him and invited him to his Big Man Camp this past June.”
According to his father, Washington did well at Bolus’ camp, earning the Best Big Man Award at the Post Camp. He then stayed on for the regular camp and did well again, earning Camp MVP. Washington then dropped 24 points in the Top-30 All-Star game at the end of that camp and the buzz continued to pick up.
“We were waiting for the July portion because we knew that the coaches could be there,” Jim said. “It was at the It Takes 5 Camp where the USC coach (O’Neill) saw him. He watched him play all three games. They didn’t play well at all, but he was really hustling up and down the court. His defense was good, he was blocking shots and grabbing rebounds.”
Washington said that it wasn’t long after they got home that his son’s high school coach got them in touch with O’Neill. After speaking with Curtis that night, the Washingtons spoke with O’Neill the next day and a Trojan scholarship was offered.
“I was just honored to be the first recruit to accept an offer (from coach O’Neill) for the 2010 class,” Washington said. “He thinks I can score for them,” he said of his future coach and team. “He thinks I can play the ‘3’ or ‘4’ positions and score from 18 feet away. That’s exactly where I want to play.”
“He’s got a great 15-18 foot jump shot,” Washington’s father said. “He’s very athletic and can take one long dribble and dunk it when he wants to. He has a nice shot and is improving his game all around right now. He’s gotten considerably better since the end of last season and he’s still growing into his body. And if you ask me, he’s still got a few inches to go. His wingspan right now is over seven feet and his coordination has gotten so much better.”
Of course, anyone planning on playing basketball at USC in the near future has heard all about the possible sanctions or punishments that could come from the NCAA, but Washington and his father had surprising reaction to that situation.
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Why would that bother him?” asked Jim Washington. “We’re pretty sure something will happen, but he doesn’t see it affecting his playing and his development. He has four years of school there and by the time he gets to that point, those things should be lifted.
“The number one issue for us is that he’ll have his education,” Washington continued. “That’s really the crux of the matter. You can’t ask for a better educational institution to do what he needs to do. Basketball is great and, God willing, he’ll go further because the coaches are well known for developing players. The school may have problems, but the team is still developing players.”
Curtis Washington shared that sentiment. He plans on majoring in physical therapy and sports medicine and had a pretty simple explanation for why USC still appealed to him despite what could happen in the future.
“I’m going there to get an education and play ball,” he said. “Neither of those things are going to change. I’m committed and that’s it. If other schools offer during the summer or next year, it’s not going to matter.”
Washington is also unfazed by the fact that he’ll be leaving home and traveling cross-country for college. His father has spent 30 years in the Navy and Curtis has lived everywhere from Guam, to Korea, to Texas and now Kentucky.
“It’s going to be a good experience,” he said of coming to Los Angeles for college. “It’ll be challenging, but that’s a part of life.”
“He’s a good kid,” his father said. “He loves to play and get out there and get better. That’s his whole thing. Being committed is just fuel for the fire. He’s going to continue to play hard.”
Washington is the second commitment in the Trojans’ 2010 class, joining Westchester High School’s Dwayne Polee.
