Dwayne "Pearl" Washington (1964-2016), NBA Guard, Syracuse University Basketball Legend, and National High School Player of the Year

[Tweaked]

A thread to mark the passing of Dwayne "Pearl" Washington at the age of 52. 

In the early-to-mid 80s there was no league bigger than the Big East - Patrick Ewing, John Thompson, Chris Mullen, Villanova's upset win over Georgetown in the NCAA final, the annual Big East Tournament at the Garden.  And Syracuse had a 6 foot 2 point guard named Pearl Washington.  His trademark "shake and bake" style left defenders flat footed.  And his buzzer beater against Boston College in 1984 sealed his place as a Syracuse legend.

Tribute by Syracuse Sports Columnist Bud Poliquin

ESPN Tribute

[DaveO]

During that period, the early 80's the Big East had been formed and was a formidable league with great teams.  Meanwhile the ACC had been a hotbed of great college basketball for a long time.  Georgetown in the Big East and Maryland in the ACC meant one could watch from two great leagues with terrific college players and teams and future pro stars.  This had to be one of the best places in the US to watch college basketball.  I got to watch some of those games in person and quite a bit on TV.

Dwayne "Pearl" Washington was one of those stars.  Very outstanding.  He was very much unguardable in college;  one of the stars of his day.  His nickname was apt, much like Earl the Pearl of the prior decade or decade and a half;  a somewhat magical player that featured great elusive dribbling, faking, change of pace skills and utterly creative ball control and court presence.  Neither was an incredible athletic freak.  Both were sort of magical.  A truly apt name.  

Boeheim, the long term coach of Syracuse elevates Pearl Washington to one of the greatest players from Syracuse during his incredibly long run at the school and among many many many stars.  He also lauds Pearl Washington's personality.  I wouldn't know anything at all about his personality, but during those years he played in the Big East and among quite a few other stars, Pearl Washington was truly and uniquely a star at the highest level.  He certainly ranks at the upper upper most levels among many shining Big East players.

 

[Tweaked]

Hey Don, if you edited this thread's title, the Pearl's legacy is much more about his NYC basketball upbringing, where he was revered on the courts of NYC.  When he left high school, he was widely regarded as the best high school basketball player in the country.  And, of course, he is a legend at Syracuse.  Boeheim has called him the most beloved basketball player in the school's history, and his decision to attend Syracuse catapulted the school's national profile. 

DaveO, from the articles I read today, Pearl was a superstar on the basketball court, but his off court personality was very humble.  Just about all his teammates have noted that in their tributes.     

His NBA career was notable for not being very good and short lived, and hence why I didn't reference it in the original title.