Friday, November 8, 2024

Williamsburg’s Richard Washington Competing in SlamBall’s Return to Primetime

Williamsburg’s own Richard Washington will compete in SlamBall on ESPN (USA SlamBall)

WILLIAMSBURG– Richard Washington is dedicating most of his summer to learning a sport that combines hockey, gymnastics, basketball, and football. The sport? SlamBall, and it will debut on ESPN on July 21.

During his career at Walsingham Academy, Washington was highly scouted, ranked as a top 15 basketball player throughout the state. He was a three-star recruit and became the first ACC basketball player ever produced by Walsingham Academy.

He ultimately committed to play basketball at Wake Forest University but was sidelined due to injuries during his collegiate career.

Returning to ESPN on July 21, SlamBall season will kick off with eight teams. Washington has inked a spot on Team Rumble, playing under the tutelage of famed head coach Ken Carter, the inspiration behind the 2005 box office hit “Coach Carter.”

“Coach Carter” was a true story based on Carter’s experiences at Richmond High School in California. In the story, Carter returns to his alma mater to coach the basketball team and is appalled at what he finds. Putting contracts in place that require the players to be as focused academically as they are athletically, he makes the decision the forfeit the season with a potential state championship on the line when grades begin to dip. Much to the dismay of parents and players, Carter stays true to his path, making sure his players are just as disciplined in the classroom as they are on the basketball court.

“It’s different working with someone like Coach Carter. He’s a good coach, he knows what he is talking about, but then he’s also an entertainer. It’s part of his personality, you get a mixture of coach and Hollywood, and it makes for a unique experience,” Washington said.

SlamBall combines basketball, hockey, gymnastics, and football (USA Slamball)

Washington was drafted by Rumble in the sixth round of the SlamBall draft.

“This is historical, it’s a sport that I grew up watching. This is a very legendary sport in its own respect. To be a part of its comeback is really special and fun. I’ve always been about the journey and this is another step on my journey,” Washington said.

What is SlamBall?

SlamBall combines multiple sports in one. Athletes come from a variety of athletic backgrounds, with 68% having a basketball background, 16% football, and 9% a track and field background.

“The objective really is to get as high as you can on trampolines and go dunk a ball or block it. It’s really multifaceted. My main thing is basketball because I come from a basketball background. I do a lot of shooting, but you have guys who have a background in football and they go around and they are trying to hit people. You have guys who are really good at jumping and they get on the trampolines and try to go as high as they possibly can. It’s a very unique sport that brings different facets of athleticism to the table,” Washington said.

Growing up, Washington never envisioned playing the game he watched as a child, at least not at this competitive level.

“I never thought I’d be doing SlamBall up until I actually got the call to do SlamBall. Even when I got the call, I wasn’t 100% certain that it was something I wanted to do. That said, life is short, take risks, take on new challenges, and I’m glad I did it. I’m having a great time,” Washington said.

As he practices day in and day out in Las Vegas, Washington is forging relationships with his fellow teammates.

“We’re really close and we all have a lot in common. We get along really well and we have a lot of fun doing this together. For me, that’s one of the biggest things about life is building positive relationships. To have this opportunity to share with such a special group of guys has been a lot of fun,” Washington says.

SlamBall on ESPN debuts on July 21 at 8 pm. The season will run for five weeks, with the championship match set for Aug 17.

For more information on SlamBall, the full schedule, and up-to-date SlamBall news, visit slamballleague.com.

Related Articles

MORE FROM AUTHOR