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The Sports Xchange

OVERVIEW

Deron Washington was a four-year starter (125-of-128 games) who consistently came out on the winning side in classic battles with bigger and stronger forwards. The Atlantic Coast Conference All-Defensive Team choice was known for his shot-blocking ability, finishing his Tech career sixth in school history with 115 blocks. He also proved to be very disruptive defensively, ranking 10th in Hokies' history with 151 steals.

Washington has athletic bloodlines. His father, Lionel, was a standout cornerback at Tulane University and played 15 seasons in the National Football League. He is presently an assistant coach with the Green Bay Packers. His mother, Denise, played basketball at Xavier University.

Washington attended National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Maryland, where he was ranked 87th in the nation by Hoop Scoop and 124th nationally by Rivals.com entering his senior season. He was ranked second-best wing forward by Maryland Prep Hoops.

Despite missing nine midseason games with a wrist fracture, Washington averaged 11.5 points and made 65 3-pointers as a junior. He also averaged 16.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 blocked shots per game as a senior.

Washington started all 30 games at Virginia Tech in 2004-05. He averaged 7.9 points per game, making 47.6 percent of his field goals (89-of-187). He collected 137 rebounds (4.6 per game) with 31 assists and 29 steals. He paced the Hokies with 30 blocked shots.

As a sophomore, Washington played in 29 games and started 28 times. He finished fourth on the team in scoring (10.5 per game) and third in rebounding average (5.0 per game). He hit on 116-of-236 field goals (49.2 percent ), as he blocked 28 shots and had 47 steals (1.6 per game). He also handed out 31 assists.

Washington led the team in rebounding at 5.3 rebounds per game and was second on the squad in scoring (12.0 points per game). He ranked second on the team in blocked shots, with 35 and led Hokie starters with a .503 field-goal percentage in 2006-07, starting 32-of-34 games.

As a senior, he earned Atlantic Coast Conference All-Defensive Team and All-ACC honorable mention. In 35 starts, he finished second on the team in scoring (12.8 per game), minutes played (33.3 per game) and rebounding (6.6 per game). He was also third in assists (80), blocks (22) and steals (34). He would close out his career as the third player in Virginia Tech history to record 1,300 points, 600 rebounds, 100 steals and 100 blocked shots.

ANALYSIS

Positives: Excellent leaper with good length to battle for rebounds ... Has the standing reach (8'6 1/2"), wingspan (81 inches) and superb elevation (40-inch vertical jump) that helps him compensate for a lack of bulk and size when combating bigger frontcourt types ... Shows good lateral agility and change-of-direction skills weaving through traffic when slashing to the rim ... Excels on the defensive end of the court with the hand quickness to disrupt the passing lanes. He knows how to get into position to hedge on screens ... One of the better small forwards when it comes to blocking shots, using his reach and elevation to get up and over the opponent to grab the ball ... Shows a good scoring touch in transition and is very comfortable firing off his shot quickly on catch-and-shoot situations ... Generates a good drive to the basket, able to muscle his way through the crowd to pull up, set his feet and execute a nice layup ... Uses his "hops" well, along with his strength to finish the transition plays with a forceful jam ... Stays low in his stance and keeps his hands active in pressure defense, doing a very good job of altering shots or taking his man off the dribble ... Gets good position to force his opponent out of the lane ... Has the court vision to handle defensive rotations and shows the foot speed to stay with the smaller guards ... When facing slower forwards, he uses an explosive first step to separate and slash to the basket ... Is all over the offensive boards for putbacks or rebounds ... With his elevation and glide to the basket, he is very effective drawing contact ... Even though his scoring is not yet refined, he does a good job of setting his feet before shooting ... Has an excellent work ethic and is considered to be of high character ... Shows the foot speed to get in front on the fast break and is a viable scoring option to finish in transition or play in the open court.

Negatives: Has the size of a shooting guard, but is a marginal ball handler whose turnovers are generally created when he is forced to dribble -- quicker wing players easily steal the ball or poke it away when he puts it on the ground ... Streaky shooter who will simply shy away when he fails to connect from beyond the arc (more comfortable with his inside game than on the perimeter, making just 29.4 percent of his 3-point attempts) ... Tends to rely on his athleticism too much vs. smaller opponents and a quicker guard or forward can have some success separating from him when he commits on hesitation moves ... Must do a better job shooting off the dribble ... Has to drastically improve his strength, slipping through traffic, but does get bounced out of the paint too much vs. physical forwards ... His frame might not be able to carry more bulk without it affecting his overall quickness.

Compares To: LARRY HUGHES-Chicago ... Washington will never be the scorer Hughes is, but both have good court vision and work ethic on the defensive end of the court. Washington is a solid shot blocker with freakish leaping ability, compensating for his lack of size and bulk at the three-spot. He is not an proficient ball-handler and does not feel comfortable shooting from the perimeter, negating a move to the shooting guard slot in the NBA. For a team needing a defender with good court quickness and excellent elevation, having him at the end of the bench could be a benefit.

CAREER NOTES

Became just the third player in Virginia Tech history to record 1,300 points (1,408), 600 rebounds (689), 100 steals (151) and 100 blocked shots (115), joining Bobby Beecher (1982-86) and Bryant Matthews (2000-04) ... Ranks 16th in school history in points scored, sixth in blocked shots and tenth in steals ... .Handed out 193 assists (1.5 per game) ... Shot 46.7 percent from the floor (503-of-1,076), 29.4 percent from 3-point range (58-of-163) and 61.6 percent from the foul line (354-of-575).

2007-08 SEASON

All-Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Team and All-ACC honorable mention ... Started all 35 games at small forward, as Washington helped lead the Hokies to a 21-14 record and a fourth place finish in the ACC ... Tech advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2008 NIT ... Was second on the team in scoring (459 points, 13.1 per game) and rebounding (227, 6.5 per game) ... Was selected to participate in the Slam Dunk competition at the 2008 Final Four ... Blocked 22 shots, had 34 steals and handed out 80 assists (2.3 per game) ... Made 147-of-353 field goals (41.6 percent ) and 18-of-67 3-pointers (26.9 percent ) ... Shot 67.1 percent from the charity stripe (147-of-219) and had 74 turnovers.

2007-08 GAME ANALYSIS

Pulled down 11 boards and scored 14 points with two assists vs. Elon in the season opener ... Had 14 points and five rebounds with a pair of assists vs. Butler, adding 17 points with three assists and five rebounds vs. North Carolina-Asheville ... Put up another 17 points with five boards vs. George Washington and scored 17 points while grabbing seven rebounds vs. Hofstra ... Totaled eight rebounds, two assists and 15 points in the Georgia Tech clash ... Posted 19 points with eight rebounds vs. Boston College and snared 12 boards to go with three assists and 15 points, despite making just 3-of-14 field goals vs. Virginia ... Scored over 20 points for the first time in his career, amassing 22 on 8-of-13 shooting, as he also had 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocks vs. Wake Forest ... Put up 15 points and grabbed eight boards the next game vs. Clemson and followed with 14-point performances in back-to-back games vs. Miami (12 rebounds) and North Carolina (two blocks) in the ACC Tournament ... Scored 16 points with six rebounds vs. Alabama-Birmingham and closed out his career with 23 points and four boards vs. Mississippi in the NIT Tournament.

2006-07 SEASON

Appeared in all 34 games, starting 32 times...Led the team in rebounding at 5.3 rebounds per game and second on the team in scoring at 12.0 points per game...Second on the team in blocked shots, with 35...Led Hokie starters with a .503 field goal percentage, making 151-of-300 attempts ... Shot 30.8 percent from 3-point range (20-of-65) and 57.8 percent from the free-throw line (85-of-147) ... Credited with 407 points, 181 rebounds, 51 assists (1.5 per game) and 41 steals (1.2 per game).

2005-06 SEASON

Played in 29 games and started 28 times...Fourth on the team in scoring (10.5 per game, 304 total) and third in rebounding average (5.0 per game, 144)...Made 116-of-236 field goals (49.2 percent ) and 65-of-114 free throws (57.0 percent ) ... Shot 26.9 percent from 3-point range (7-of-26) ... Added 31 assists (1.1 per game), 28 blocked shots and 47 steals (1.6 per game).

2004-05 SEASON

Was one of the top freshmen in the ACC, as he started all 30 games for the Hokies ... Ranked second on the team in field goal percentage (47.6, 89-of-187) and fourth in rebounding (4.6 per game, 137 total) ... Scored 238 points (7.9 per game), as he had 30 blocked shots, 29 steals and 31 assists ... Made 60 percent of his free throws (57-of-95).

INJURY REPORT

2002-03: Missed nine midseason games during his high school junior year with a broken bone in his wrist.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, Md.), playing basketball for head coach Mark White ... Ranked 87th in the nation by Hoop Scoop and 124th nationally by Rivals.com his senior season ... Ranked the second-best wing forward by Maryland Prep Hoops ... Despite missing nine mid-season games with a wrist fracture, he averaged 11.5 points and made 65 3-pointers as a junior ... Averaged 16.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 blocked shots per game as a senior.

PERSONAL

Sociology major ... Son of Lionel and Denise Washington ... Father played football at Tulane and played 15 seasons in the National Football League as a defensive back. He currently is an assistant coach with the Green Bay Packers...Mother played basketball at Xavier University in New Orleans. She moved to Blacksburg in the Fall of 2005 after losing her home when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, where she was a teacher. She is currently living and working in the New River Valley ... Born Deron R. Washington on 12/12/85 in Florissant, Missouri ... Resides in New Orleans, Louisiana.