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DB Donald Washington III (Official Thread)

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<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Washington Makes It Official

By Bucknuts.com Staff
Date: Feb 2, 2005

Earlier this month, Donald Washington of Indianapolis Franklin Central likely did not have much hope of receiving an offer from Ohio State. Things changed quickly though, and today, Donald Washington officially signed with the Buckeyes. Check out some photos of the signing ceremony.

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One of the most excited players to sign with Ohio State today was wide receiver/defensive back Donald Washington out of Indianapolis Franklin Central. Sometimes, recruits can find offers pulled out from under them if they wait too long to make a decision, but Washington proved that good things can come to those who wait. Washington seemed set to decide between Illinois and Indiana, but Ohio State came through with an offer just over a week before signing day.

"I think he's always had the incredible dream to play at Ohio State and it is starting to finally materialize for him," Franklin Central head coach Lance Scheib said last week.

Below are three photos of Washington's signing day ceremony, sent in by Mike Wells:

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Washington getting ready to sign

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Coach Lance Scheib with Donald Washington

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Washington and his family after faxing the letter of intent and talking with the coaches on the phone.


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Great article from the Indy Sun:

http://www.indystar.com/articles/4/219582-2814-036.html

He's a man with a plan
Player has goals that go beyond athletics

By TJ Brammer
[email protected]
February 4, 2005

Donald Washington III's seventh-grade teammates often gathered around the court before basketball practice.

"Come on, jump up and grab the rim," his Franklin Township teammates urged.

Washington then realized he had a gift.

"Everybody got it started then that I was real athletic," he said.

Athletics have served Washington well. One of the best Marion County athletes, the Franklin Central senior's accolades include two state long-jump championships, two all-state football selections and being named to The Indianapolis Star's 2004 football Super Team. He's been a four-year basketball starter.

Washington is a natural athlete, but that's only part. He also excels as a teammate, a leader and a student.

His well-roundedness led to football scholarship offers from Duke, Ohio State, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin. This week, Washington signed a letter of intent to attend Ohio State.

Everyone seems to think he'll succeed in college and beyond.

Fourth-year Franklin Central coach Lance Scheib has coached varsity football for 13 years. Scheib has had one player, Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Craig Terrill, play in the NFL. He's sent numerous others to the college game.

Where does Washington rank among the hundreds of players Scheib has had?

"Oh, best ever," the former Purdue wide receiver said. "It's not even close. I've never had a kid (before) who had the full package."

Washington clocks a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, and his vertical leap approaches 39 inches. He bench presses 275 pounds and lifts 405 in a squat thrust. His 6-2, 180-pound frame helped him grab 42 passes for 658 yards and seven touchdowns during the Flashes' 6-4 2004 season.

Scheib doesn't think offense is Washington's strongest suit.

He also succeeded as a defensive back, knocking down nine passes and intercepting four. He returned two of those picks for game-sealing touchdowns.

"Offensively, he's really got to work at it," Scheib said. "He's good, he's great; don't get me wrong. But everything he does on defense is natural."

Which is why Washington will play safety at Ohio State. Other coaching staffs said they'd try him at receiver and in the defensive backfield. The Buckeyes always have said he's a safety.

Always eager to play

To illustrate Washington's character, Scheib pointed to his freshman year. During August practices, the coach saw Washington was good enough to suit up for varsity but not sufficiently mature to play every down.

Scheib gave Washington a choice. He could play the entire game at the junior varsity level, or he could suit up for varsity and see limited action. Washington chose to play JV.

"Coach, I want to play every down, so I want to stay down," Washington responded.

"Most kids are going to want to play varsity," Scheib said. "To think that process through, and be with the guys he grew up with, that said a lot to me about him."

Fast forward to Sept. 13 of last year. The Flashes had just dropped a 28-14 decision to Conference Indiana rival Lawrence Central, the team's season off to a disappointing 2-2 start. Washington, a captain, called a team meeting. It was the second such gathering he had called, a first for any Scheib player.

"I just wanted to try to get everybody together," Washington said. "People were starting to get out of line, not doing what they were supposed to. As a senior captain, I wanted to make sure everybody was focused."

Scheib had an epiphany.

"That's probably the No. 1 reason why he's a two-time state track champion," Scheib said. "It's because of his character. There are a lot of great athletes out there. I'll be curious to see what happens to him because of his character.

"Somewhere along the line, somebody taught him some great work ethic."

Avoiding pitfalls

Washington's father, Donald Jr., has led a bumpy life. A standout athlete at Shortridge High School, he discovered he wasn't ready for life after graduation. He didn't want his son to fall in the same trap.

"I wasn't as good as Donald, but I was treated more or less as like a neighborhood legend," he said. "To be a great athlete, you've got to have grades. When football's over with, you have to think about what to do afterwards."

Washington has responded by getting good grades since elementary school. He has a 3.4 grade-point average and never has missed the honor roll in high school.

He's comfortable enough in the classroom to declare that a teacher has misspelled a word on the overhead projector.

"You misspelled 'likelihood,' " Washington said to the teacher in a half-laugh, half-whisper.

"That's why I don't teach English," the teacher joked.

Washington wants to play professional football, but he knows his dream could be fleeting. He'll major in business management at Ohio State and wants to someday head his own business.

"I have to have a Plan B in case it doesn't work," he said.

Washington is afraid to take anything for granted. He knows his athletic prime will end soon enough, which is why he works hard in the weight room. And in practice. And in the classroom.

"I don't want to pass up my opportunities," he said. "I don't want to look back and say, 'I wish I would have done this, this way,' or 'I wish I would've done something that way.' If I do things the way I'm supposed to the first time, I don't have to worry about any of that."

Exerts leadership

Basketball coach Mark James thinks Washington could have played college basketball, had he decided to focus on the sport. James said Washington's positive leadership has helped his 10-3 team as much as his athleticism.

Washington doesn't dominate the basketball court like he does the football field. He's one of James' interchangeable parts, a single member of a team unwilling to elevate any individual.

"He's (a leader) in a positive way," the 24th-year coach said. "He's not the type of guy who's going to jump on anybody when they screw up. He's been willing to put his individual needs aside for the group.

"He's never been in trouble in school or out of school. Good people make good things happen, and that's the kind of kid he is."

To play for James' team, a player must follow numerous rules. Players must be clean-shaven, wear a suit before games and earrings must come out.

Washington said he doesn't mind. He thinks the parameters are preparing him for the future.

"Down the road, everything you do, somebody's going to set guidelines that everybody's going to follow," he said. "There's always going to be somebody in front of you, like the president of some company. It's part of being in the real world, part of being a man.

"If you don't have your legs covered in the NFL, you get fined."

Just before the Flashes took the court for their 63-61 win last Friday at Decatur Central, Washington washed his hands. It's something he's done before every athletic contest since his freshman year, for fear of playing poorly if he doesn't.

He doesn't simply wash them. He scrubs them. Scrubs in between his fingers. Scrubs under his fingernails. Scrubs the top of each hand.

At that point, Washington didn't resemble a basketball player getting ready to leave the locker room. He was more like a surgeon, with a basketball court or a football field to operate on.
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I love this quote from Mel Tucker and if he turns out like him that is wonderful!!

Donald Washington - "Donald is a guy who is about six feet, 185, 190 pounds, he's got a 39-inch vertical leap, he's a got a 23 foot long jump. He's very explosive. He's got long arms, wide shouldered guy, and a really smart kid that is excellent in the class room. He's very, very serious and a winner. An excellent athlete that can play corner or safety. He reminds me of a young Youboty type kid."
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They were showing Highlights from a High School dunking contest in Idiana (during the Indiana Game) Sponsored by Jermain Oneal, A kid named Donald Washington was the winner, don't know if it was him or not but He is from Indiana and seems to fit the build of the guy I saw, and let me tell you that if these guys are one in the same, then this guy has some serious ups and is every bit of the athlete that he is hyped up to be and I am glad he is on OSU's side.:)
 
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Flashes impress at Conseco Fieldhouse
The Flashes' Donald Washington continued to show his athletic versatility. It has been announced he will be attending Ohio State University on a football scholarship. On the eve of the Jermaine O'Neal Super Shootout, the two-time defending state long jump champion won his event at the eight-school Warren Central Twilight Invitational.

And on Saturday, Washington not only played for the South boys team that dropped a 107-105 decision to the City contingent, but the Flashes' leaper also won the Super Shootout's crowd-pleasing slam dunk contest. In the game itself, he hit both of his shot attempts.
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I wonder if Highstreet or someone could contact the high school to see if they could supply us with the video highlights from the dunk contest so we could feature them here for free.
 
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scout.com$

5/20/05

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Donald Washington

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Washington To Jump At Chance For Threepeat
By Steve Helwagen Managing Editor
Date: May 20, 2005

Donald Washington of Indianapolis Franklin Central is almost set to graduate and begin thinking about his football career at Ohio State. But first, he has some business to finish on the track. We caught up with Washington to find out more about what he'll be up to in the coming weeks.
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Washington is the a two time defending champion in the long jump and is looking to threepeat. He will graduate next week and may compete in the National High School Track Meet in June. Donald has a 3.2 GPA and a 19 on the ACT.​
 
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