FGCU men's basketball freshman BB Washington was born with basketball in his blood. His new head coach, Pat Chambers, jokes that Washington was probably given a ball when he was a child instead of a pacifier. His family is full of hoopers, which will be on full display this Saturday when FGCU plays Richmond.
BB's parents both played collegiate basketball at Abilene Christian and then professionally in Finland. His older sister was a McDonald All-American in high school, played at Texas, and then went pro in Spain. His older brother was a top recruit in his class who went to Michigan before transferring to Richmond. Rounding out BB's family is his younger brother, who already has multiple Division I scholarship offers.
“There would rarely be a day that we weren’t in the gym," BB said. “I’m beyond grateful for the role that they’ve played in my development.”
The Washington family was constantly in the gym. BB's father, George, is a coach and would help train his sons as they grew up. That mentorship and the constant competition led BB to play D-I basketball at FGCU. As a true freshman, the guard is starting to carve out a role for himself, and his coach says BB will be getting some more playing time soon.
“BB can really shoot the lights out," Chambers said. "He’s a terrific kid, great competitor.”
In the spirit of the holidays, the Washington's have received a gift. BB is about to play his older brother, G, in a collegiate basketball game when FGCU travels to Richmond on Saturday.
“Just thinking about it, it’s crazy," BB said.
Two brothers going head-to-head in a Division I basketball game is super rare. It's not every day that two players of that caliber come out of the same family, let alone play at the same time and on two teams that are on each others' schedules.
FGCU and Richmond don't play each other very often. This will be just the second ever meeting between the two schools and first since 2008.
Coach Chambers says that when the opportunity to add Richmond to the Eagles' schedule was presented, he jumped on it. He knew how unique it would be for BB and the entire Washington family, especially around the holidays.
“What we’re expecting for Christmas is for them to be standing on opposite sides of the room staring each other down in preparation for the game," said BB's father, George.
This isn't the first time the brothers have gone head-to-head. There were plenty of one-on-one battles between the two when they were growing up.
“There would be too many days where we play one-on-one, and all of us would come inside crying because there was a fight," BB said.
Those battles produced two stellar players. They both know each other's games inside and out.
"BB is the only guy that can guard G, and G is the only guy that can guard BB," George said.
The Washington parents say they are not picking sides. However, BB is confident in FGCU's chances and is excited about the opportunity to play against his older brother.
“Us being so close, always working out together, and growing up being so close, it’s honestly just a dream come true," BB said.
FGCU plays at Richmond on Saturday at 6 p.m.