By Tucker Paquette
@tpaquette17
Providence Christian School (Tenn.) wing Chris Washington Jr. comes to the 2026 Panini Hoophall Classic with more than half a dozen premier college basketball programs in fervent pursuit of his commitment. However, these exciting off-court matters didn’t get in the way of the textbook scoring performance the 6-foot-7 wing turned in Sunday morning.
Washington Jr., ESPN’s No. 49 ranked recruit in the class of 2026, displayed a diverse scoring profile in his team’s 59-49 defeat at the hands of Imhotep Charter School (Pa.). He relied on his athleticism, as he often does, to get him where he wants to go on the court.
In this game, and in many others, that place is the rim. Washington Jr. shot eight free throws in Sunday’s contest, consistently putting pressure on Imhotep’s defense with his driving and attacking. To Washington Jr., this is a defining aspect of his skillset.
“Me getting to the rim, honestly,” Washington Jr. said. “My shot, it was falling a little, but really just me getting to the rim.”
His shot was indeed falling, as Washington Jr. ended with 24 points on an efficient 8-16 shooting clip from the field. He added in two 3-pointers, and contributed six rebounds for good measure.
A performance like that is enjoyable enough at any venue, but the opportunity to show what he can do at an event such as Hoophall was clearly a proud moment for Washington Jr.
“This is my first time ever coming here to play,” Washington Jr. said. “It was a great experience. Seeing the Basketball Hall [of Fame], the fans, seeing the crowd. It was a great time just to be here, to show my game.”
As it turns out, Washington Jr.’s game is of interest to many important people far beyond Blake Arena. He initially committed to the University of Alabama for college, but back in November Washington Jr. decided to re-open his recruitment.
This decision, one that was made by Washington Jr. with the input and advice from his father, has led to significant interest in the Gainesville, Fla. native. He has offers from a number of schools, including Tennessee, Florida State, Auburn and Villanova, in addition to Alabama.
Washington Jr. has also fielded interest from schools such as Oregon, USC and SMU, and he and his father are working to schedule visits for him. As of this moment, the only one on the docket for him is Tennessee.
Among the factors Washington Jr. is prioritizing in his college home are a sense of community and a clear fit. However, he is placing an especially strong emphasis on his development, and along those lines, Washington Jr. would love to be able to contribute as a freshman, wherever he goes.
“My play style, brotherhood, seeing how I just fit in the situation [are all considerations],” Washington Jr. said. “I’m trying to be an impact freshman, become a player as a freshman. It’s really [about] my development. Development and seeing how I fit the place.”
Ultimately, Washington Jr. is making sure he is making steady progress with his game. He has pinpointed target areas of improvement, and this approach seems primed to continue to propel him forward on his basketball journey.
“I want to improve, just getting better every day,” Washington Jr. said. “Honestly, every time I step on the court, I’m just consistent. Be consistent and get better. I feel like I need to get stronger, continue working on my game.”
(Photo by Emma Bynes/The Student)