Warren Washington commits to Oregon State
Warren Washington is headed to the Pac-12.
The 6-11 power forward announced his verbal commitment to Oregon State Thursday evening. He chose the Beavers over Rutgers, Nevada, Cal and Utah.
The Mission Hills High School senior is the region’s third Pac-12 commitment this year. Miles Norris committed to Oregon and Taeshon Cherry committed to USC earlier this summer.
Washington (Prep Hoops So-Cal’s No. 15 2018 prospect) said his commitment fulfills a lifelong goal of playing basketball in one of the nation’s top conferences.
“I’ve always believed I can play in the Pac-12 and I think my commitment shows me where my ceiling is as a prospect,” Washington said. “I am ready to get to work and play against the best and get after it.”
Washington committed four days after taking an official visit to the Corvallis campus, where Head Coach Wayne Tinkle extended him a scholarship offer. Washington said he fell in love with the campus and liked the coaching’s staff vision for him and the opportunity contribute right away as a freshman.
“After the visit it felt like home,” Washington said. “I am excited to go there and play with Ethan Thompson and the other really good players. It’s a perfect fit.”
Washington said the coaching staff envisions him playing primarily at the power forward, where he can stretch the defense with his improved perimeter shooting and make plays for others with his court vision.
“They already have a couple of centers, so I am going to fit perfectly,” Washington said. “I feel like I can bring a bunch of things to the table, such as stretching the floor, my court vision and my IQ.”
Over his career, Washington, who played travel basketball for San Diego-based Gamepoint Pump-N-Run, has proven to be a matchup problem due to his skill level and agility against bigger defenders, and his ability to score over the top of smaller forward.
Washington said he has worked hard to address his primary weaknesses, lack of strength and explosion, by working off this off-season with Encinitas-based strength coach Trent Suzuki.
“Trent and I have been working the past 6 weeks, and I’ve already gained six pounds of muscle and I’m starting to fill out my frame,” Washington said. “I am just being patient, because you can’t rush the body, that’s the only way to break it down. But I’m definitely already working and I feel like the physicality shouldn’t be a problem next year.”
With his commitment out of the way, Washington said he is ready to focus on the upcoming high school season. His goals, he said, are the same as every year.
“I definitely want to start off by winning league, and go as far as we can in CIF and State,” Washington said. “We have a lot of hard-nosed guys, and this is my year to have to be a leader and call in my soldiers, and I am excited about that.”