Corey Washington

INTRODUCTION

Corey Washington began his collegiate career at Saint Peter’s, where he made an immediate impact and was named to the MAAC All-Freshman Team. In his sophomore season, he broke out as a starter and team leader in both scoring and rebounding, helping Saint Peter’s capture the conference title while earning All-MAAC First Team and Tournament MVP honors. Transferring to Wichita State for his junior year, he continued his upward trajectory, ranking second on the team in points and rebounds and securing a spot on the AAC Second Team. Now joining the SMU Mustangs for his senior year, Washington arrives as an experienced and underrated forward with the tools to make another competitive leap.

PHYSICAL

Corey Washington owns an ideal modern-forward frame with a strong blend of mobility, length, and athleticism. He runs the floor effectively, plays above the rim, and brings energy in transition. Laterally, he moves well for his size, which allows him to switch onto smaller defenders and stay active in space. However, his frame still lacks upper-body strength, and he can struggle to absorb or initiate contact in physical matchups. Improving balance and coordination will help him sustain control on drives and post entries. With added strength and stability, he projects as a more complete two-way athlete capable of withstanding higher-intensity competition.

OFFENSIVE PHASE

Corey Washington is a versatile forward who thrives off movement, cuts, and second-chance opportunities. His activity on the glass (2.6 offensive rebounds per game) generates easy points on put-backs and hustle plays. He has developed as a mid-range scorer, hitting pull-ups with improved body control and finishing at a 47.5% clip inside the arc. He’s capable of attacking closeouts and using his mobility to find open lanes. While he flashes pick-and-pop potential and spot-up ability, his perimeter efficiency remains inconsistent (34.7% on 2.2 three-point attempts). Decision-making can waver when he plays at full speed, occasionally forcing actions (1.6 turnovers per game), and his playmaking impact is limited (0.5 assists). When he stays composed, his off-ball reads and offensive timing elevate team flow. Expanding his perimeter game and facilitating from the forward spot are logical next steps in his offensive progression.

DEFENSIVE PHASE

Corey Washington brings energy, mobility, and versatility. His lateral agility allows him to contain smaller guards on switches and recover quickly after rotations. He’s active in help-side coverage, contributing with timely contests and weak-side rim protection (0.8 blocks per game). On the boards, he remains productive for his position, averaging 7.5 rebounds per game and competing effectively on both ends. However, he can struggle to hold ground against physically stronger or longer opponents, and his defensive positioning can drift in half-court sets. He is more reactive than anticipatory, which limits his ability to generate steals (1 per game). Continued focus on maintaining defensive stance and anticipating actions earlier will improve his impact against higher-level forwards and stretch bigs.

IMPROVED AREAS

Washington’s development will hinge on refining his technical and decision-making skills to complement his athletic tools. Offensively, improving perimeter consistency and overall shot selection will expand his scoring range and make him a more dynamic offensive threat. He must also become a more reliable passer from the short roll or high post to boost his value as a facilitator. Defensively, adding upper-body strength will allow him to handle contact and battle longer forwards more effectively. With enhanced physicality, composure, and shooting stability, he projects as a versatile combo-forward capable of contributing on both ends in up-tempo systems.