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.

[3] In 1970, Washington was a member of the U.S. team that played in the 1970 FIBA World Championship in Yugoslavia, finishing fifth.

[4] 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.