Syracuse Basketball: Howard Washington isn’t done beating the odds

Syracuse basketball guard Howard Washington has dealt with some unbelievable obstacles, but he isn’t done beating the odds.

Many Syracuse basketball fans have been wondering about the whereabouts of Howard Washington. After playing in 18 games his freshman season, Howard only appeared in three games as a sophomore, what gives?

Mike Waters of Syracuse.com documented the horrific details of Howard Washington suffering a stroke while leaving class last September.

"After being rushed to the hospital, “a neurosurgeon, performed a surgical procedure to remove two clots from Washington’s brain.”"

For those like Howard Washington who assumed that a stroke is something that happens to older people, that’s not true. It can happen to literally anyone, at any time.

It’s labeled a “brain attack”.

"According to Stroke.org, “a stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost.”"

Every stroke is different so the symptoms can vary from temporary weakness in the arms or legs all the way to being permanently paralyzed on one side of your body or even losing the ability to speak.

Howard Washington experienced both of the most serious symptoms immediately when the stroke occurred here are the gruesome details in his own words via Syracuse.com:

"“I felt kinda weird, all cloudy and dizzy, but I’m still walking. I’m near a car and I feel myself getting super weak and I’m losing my legs. My right foot’s dragging and my left arm’s on the car. It’s like I’m slowly falling, falling, falling. I lost everything on the right side of my body. I felt like everything just shut down.Two guys from my chemistry class were coming up from behind me. I didn’t really know them, but they knew I played on the basketball team. They are coming from behind me saying, “Are you all right?”I’m trying to talk to them. I can hear them talking to me. Inside my mind, I’m perfectly fine, but my words aren’t coming out right. I’m slurring my speech. I’m telling myself, “Answer them.” But I couldn’t physically do it.”"

Despite going through that ordeal a mere month later Howard Washington suited up for SU’s season opener vs Eastern Washington on November 6th.

You’d think that is the craziest part of the story, but you haven’t even heard the half of it yet. There was another procedure that had to be executed to repair a hole in his heart following the stroke.

A group of doctors went through the surgical procedure of closing the hole in his heart by inserting two discs that will be there for the rest of his life.

Ultimately Washington ended up eventually getting a redshirt for last season.

The fact that Howard is still alive is a miracle. But Howard said recently on social media that he’s not done beating the odds.

With Syracuse replacing their entire backcourt heading into the 2019 season with Tyus Battle and Frank Howard gone, the opportunity is possible for Howard Washington:

• Jalen Carey
• Buddy Boeheim
• Joe Girard III
• Brycen Goodine
• Brendan Paul
• Ray Featherston

Washington is one of seven guards on the roster heading into the 2019-20 season. With so much talent ahead of him, he faces long odds to make the starting lineup. But after facing a near-death experience last season, there’s nothing that can stop Howard from realizing his full potential and living out his basketball dreams.