Kenny Washington (basketball)
Washington in 1964 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | c.1944[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Robert Smalls (Beaufort, South Carolina) |
| College | UCLA (1963–1966) |
| NBA draft | 1966: 8th round, 71st overall pick |
| Drafted by | San Francisco Warriors |
| Position | Guard |
| Career history | |
Coaching | |
| 1974–1975 | UCLA (women's) |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Kenneth Washington (born c. 1944) is an American former basketball player and coach. As a player, he won two national championships playing college basketball with the UCLA Bruins, where he played on national championship teams in 1964 and 1965. Washington represented the United States national team in the 1970 FIBA World Championship where he was selected to the All-Tournament team. He was also the first head coach in UCLA women's basketball history.[2]
Playing career
Washington, a 6-foot-3-inch (1.91 m) guard out of Robert Smalls High School in Beaufort, South Carolina, played for coach John Wooden at UCLA from 1963 to 1966, where he was a key member of Wooden's first two NCAA championship teams in 1964 and 1965. As the sixth man of those teams, Washington helped the Bruins establish what is now known as a storied tradition. Washington was particularly effective in his two championship appearances, netting 26 points[3] and grabbing 12 rebounds in the final of the 1964 NCAA tournament and scoring 17 in the 1965 championship and earning a spot on the All-Final Four team.[4]
After graduation, Washington was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors in the eighth round (71st pick overall) of the 1966 NBA draft, but he never played in the league. He played basketball in Europe.[5]
National team career
In 1970, Washington was a member of the United States national team that played in the 1970 FIBA World Championship in Yugoslavia, finishing fifth. He was the second-leading scorer on the team, averaging 12.4 points in 9 games and was named to the FIBA WC All-Tournament first team.[6][7]
Coaching career
In 1974, Washington was named the first intercollegiate head coach in UCLA women's basketball history. He coached one season, leading the Bruins to an 18–4 record behind star Ann Meyers.[8][9]
He is the uncle of Major League Baseball player Jason Heyward.
References
- ^ "USA Basketball History". USA Basketball. 1 December 2024. p. 44. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ^ Scott Hamilton (4 April 2025). "First UCLA women's basketball coach, a Beaufort native, says 'excellence is expected'". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ^ Reed, William F. "The glory years from 1964 to '75, the Bruins achieved a run of titles that will never again be duplicated". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
- ^ "NCAA Tournament History". www.cbssports.com. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
- ^ Hall, John (February 3, 1971). "Sons of the Blue". Los Angeles Times. Part III, p. 3. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ [1] Archived 2010-07-16 at the Wayback Machine, accessed August 12, 2011
- ^ "World Championship 1970". www.linguasport.com. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ 2010–11 UCLA women's basketball media guide Archived 2012-09-02 at the Wayback Machine, accessed August 12, 2011
- ^ Charles Hallman (15 February 2025). "UCLA's first Black coach underappreciated". Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
External links
- Career statistics from Basketball Reference