Washington played high school ball in Washington, D.C., where he was recruited by Marquette, Detroit and Loyola Chicago. He instead chose to attend the University of San Diego (USD), believing that he could contribute more as a guard at a small-college school, which did not depend as much on big, dominant centers. Wanting to improve his skills to play professionally, he also thought that a large school would only value his shooting and not allow him to improve on defense. At the time, USD was an NCAA Division II affilitate. Washington played on the freshman team and then three years of varsity under Toreros coach Bernie Bickerstaff. As a senior in 1974, he broke the school career scoring record of 1,234 set by Russ Cravens over four seasons (1959–1963).
After college, Washington was selected by the Washington Bullets in the fourth round of the 1974 NBA draft with the 66th overall pick (the franchise changed its name from the Capital Bullets prior to the start of the 1974–75 season). He was reunited with Bickerstaff, who had left USD to become an assistant coach for the Bullets in 1973–74. Washington appeared in one regular season game for the Bullets on October 19, 1974, when he was scoreless in four minutes while attempting one shot. Four days later, he was released by the team so that they could sign Jimmy Jones, who had been a seven-year veteran and All-Star in the rival American Basketball Association (ABA). After a few tryouts with ABA teams later that season, Washington retired from basketball.
Washington is the only Torero to have played in the NBA. He was inducted into USD's athletics hall of fame in 2010.

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