LOCAL SPORTS: Washington set for Hall of Fame induction
Published 11:02 am Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Trinity High School had a rich and glorious basketball history spanning six-plus decades.
Many young men starred on the court for the Panthers. However, one player may have shone brightest and that is 2024 Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame inductee Trevor Washington.
Washington’s journey to stardom at Trinity and eventually Alabama A&M began on his family’s farm in eastern Limestone County.
“My mother bought a basketball goal when I was about 5 years old and installed it in the backyard,” Washington said. “I just fell in love with the sport. We lived pretty much in a rural area and didn’t have many neighbors. So, it was just me and my younger brother Snyder that played in the backyard. We would play all the time. Didn’t matter if it was hot, cold, raining or whatever, we were constantly playing basketball. And I would say we had some pretty intense games.”
Once he reached Trinity, it didn’t take long for Washington to make an immediate impact on the court for coach Thomas House and the Panthers.
He became a three-year starter and team leader. At 6-2 — and possessing great shooting and ball-handling skills — Washington played both shooting guard and small forward positions. Not only did Washington finish his career as the Panthers all-time leading scorer (2,452 points), he was one of the school’s all-time leaders in assists and rebounds.
He was selected as a first-team member of the all-time Trinity High School basketball team and one of the 50 most influential athletes in Trinity basketball history.
It was his all-around play that Trinity High School historian Colonel James Walker says makes Washington not only one of the Panthers’ greatest players ever, but one of the top basketball players in Limestone County history.
“In my opinion, Trevor is one of the top five basketball players in Limestone County history,” Walker said. “Trevor really didn’t have a weakness. He was a good shooter, strong rebounder and excellent ball handler. He possessed the intangibles like leadership and the court intelligence of knowing where his teammates were positioned on the floor. He was the complete package and teams had a difficult time matching up with Trevor. He was an all-around great player and is a great person.”
Washington says it was fun playing for the Panthers.
“I have a lot of fond memories of playing for coach House and Trinity. We had a lot of good players and we won some big games. I was fortunate to play early and was surrounded by some great teammates during my time at Trinity. Definitely a great experience,” Washington said.
Once he graduated from Trinity, Washington’s next stop in his basketball career was Alabama A&M.
Washington says his career started slow with the Bulldogs, but things picked up during the second half of his freshman season.
“Playing college basketball took some adjusting. However, I picked up things better as the season progressed. In fact, I led the team in scoring during the second half of the season,” he said.
Washington was a four-year starter for Alabama A&M, averaging 14 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while shooting 50.1% from the field and 70.9% from the free throw line. His top scoring output during his collegiate career was against Talladega College when he poured in 34 points.
“One of my memorable games for Alabama A&M was when we played Athens College. I scored 20 points and my brother scored 17 points and we beat Athens College 89-70,” Washington said.
The historical significance of being selected for the LCSHOF isn’t lost on Washington.
“First of all, it is a real honor to be selected for the Hall of Fame. Representing Trinity High School and all the great players that played there makes it special,” Washington said.
Washington accomplished plenty on the hardwood during his career.
A basketball journey that started with the daily one-on-one contests with his younger brother in their backyard will be completed with his introduction into the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame. Trevor and Snyder Washington (a LCSHOF inductee) were teammates in high school and college and now will be forever linked as members of the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame.