Boeheim, college basketball remember Pearl Washington

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim said the late Dwayne “Pearl” Washington “helped make our program.”

“I thought he was the most exciting player I’ve ever seen play the game of basketball. I still think that today,” the Orange coach said.

The visibly emotional Boeheim spoke to the media at the Carmelo K. Anthony Center on Syracuse University’s South campus on Wednesday afternoon after it was announced that Washington had died earlier in the day at age 52.

Boeheim called Washington a “really humble guy.”

“He helped make our program. He helped make the Big East, and he helped college basketball. He’s the guy that everybody wanted to see play,” said Boeheim

Washington had been diagnosed with a brain tumor during the summer of 2015. He had surgery during the fall but was unable to survive his illness, according to cuse.com, the website of Syracuse University Athletics.

This year’s Syracuse men’s basketball team honored the ill Washington by wearing orange warmup shirts with “Pearl” and “31” inscribed in white.

Washington’s collegiate career covered three seasons between 1983 and 1986. He tallied 1,490 career points, a total that still ranks 25th on the school’s list, Syracuse said.

He led the Orange in scoring as a junior, averaging 17.3 points per outing.

National condolences
Besides the local remembrances, those who follow and played basketball also offered their thoughts on Twitter.

Stephen A. Smith, an ESPN analyst, tweeted “#RIP Pearl Washington. The greatest college basketball show I’ve ever seen!”

Mark Jackson, an analyst on ESPN/ABC’s NBA telecasts and a former player for St. John’s University, tweeted: “Prayers to the Family, Friends, n Fans of the Great Pearl Washington! Can’t talk NYC BBall w/o Pearl! God Bless #RIP”

Jackson’s tweet included a photo of himself in his St. John’s uniform along with Pearl.

ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas tweeted, “RIP Dwayne “Pearl” Washington, one of college basketball’s all-time greats. An extraordinarily sad day.”

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, former guard with the Los Angeles Lakers and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, tweeted, “Rest in Peace to the best ball handler I’ve ever seen in my lifetime, Dwayne “Pearl” Washington.”

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com