Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, Washington graduated from Gentry High School in Indianola, Mississippi in 1995.

[1] In his freshman year with the Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team, Washington was a backup center behind future NBA player Erick Dampier.

Washington averaged 1.8 points and 2.1 rebounds as a freshman; he also blocked 13 shots and made 41% of field goal tries and 60% of free throw attempts.

[1] Washington made his professional debut with the Italian team Banca Popolare Ragusa of Serie A2 in the 1999–2000 season.

[10] In 2005, the Fujian Xunxing of the Chinese Basketball Association drafted Washington as the second overall pick of international players.

[12] By the end of March 2006, Washington signed with the Capitanes de Arecibo of Baloncesto Superior Nacional of Puerto Rico.