Player Bio

Paul Jamaine Washington Jr. was born in 1998 in Dallas to Paul Sr. and Sherry Washington. Both parents played college ball at Middle Tennessee State. Washington attended the local Prime Prep Academy as a freshman and posted 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He transferred to Findlay Prep in Nevada as a sophomore and averaged 10.0 points and 7.0 rebounds. Those numbers jumped in his junior year to 16.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Washington saved the best for his senior season by recording 19.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game on a team that reached the national semifinals. Thanks to his outstanding achievements, he was honored as a McDonald's All-American, a Jordan Brand Classic All-Star and a USA Today First-Team All-USA Nevada Player of the Year. Washington has also represented the USA at such events as the 2015 FIBA 3x3 U-18 World Championship, the 2016 FIBA Americas U-18 Championship and the 2017 FIBA U-19 World Cup. You can follow him on Twitter (@PJWashington) and Instagram (@pj_washington). It can be difficult for first-year players to stand out at Kentucky. Coach John Calipari is not shy about attracting big groups of top recruits. Washington was part of a class which included Kevin Knox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He had a solid freshman season with averages of 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds. He closed the regular season by scoring in double digits in six straight games, including a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds in a win at Arkansas. Washington was even better in the NCAA Tournament with 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds as the Wildcats advanced to the Sweet 16. The forward had 18 points and 15 rebounds in the loss to Kansas State. Following the season, he had surgery on his pinkie finger. Washington was the Wildcats' best player as a sophomore. He averaged 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds. He had nine double-doubles and scored a career-high 29 points with 12 rebounds in a December loss to Seton Hall. Washington concluded his Kentucky career by putting up 28 points and 13 rebounds in the loss to Auburn in the 2019 Big Dance. After dipping his toe into the NBA water before returning for his sophomore season, the forward made himself eligible for the 2019 NBA Draft. The Hornets selected him with the 12th overall pick.