On a chilly night in Memphis, Tennessee, the Manasas Tigers faced off with the Nashville Knights. There was 5.4 seconds left in the basketball game. The score was Mansas High 54 to Nashville High 56. It was the state championship and Manasas needed a three-pointer to win the game.

Tyrell Washington wasn’t a very popular student at Manasas High school. Throughout High school he earned many nicknames for himself, such as “nerd” or “dork.” Tyrell was one of those students that only focused on his grades and nothing else. He never played any sports for high school and didn’t have many friends. All he ever loved was two things: The Ohio State University and Basketball. The main reason he focused so much on his grades was to get a scholarship to attend Ohio State. Tyrell needed a scholarship because his family didn’t make enough income to send him to college.

When Tyrell was 8 years old his parents died in a horrible car accident. Although Tyrell was young, he never forgot the promise he made to his father the night before he died. For some reason Tyrell’s dad was talking to Tyrell and told him, “Son, if anything ever happens to me, I want you to promise me that you will be the most successful young man in this family and you will be the best father you can possibly be. Just promise me that.” That was the one thing Tyrell never forgot, and he vowed to fulfill the promise. From that moment on, he lived with his grandparents in Memphis and had to work full time to support himself and his grandparents.

When Tyrell was young, he and his father would play basketball in Manasas Park almost every day after pre-school. He went there throughout the years growing up. After his parents passed away, Tyrell would play basketball in his free time, when he wasn’t studying or working,
One day Tyrell’s grandfather came to the park with him and watched Tyrell play. His grandfather realized how good he was while watching him.

He told Tyrell “How come you don’t play basketball for your high school? I believe you have incredible skills!”

Tyrell answered, “thank you Grandpa, but I just don’t have enough time, between work and studying!”

His grandfather responded, “Tyrell I have been saving a ton of money and I think it is enough for us to be ok for the next year. You work hard enough for this family and I think you deserve to play the sport you love!”

Tyrell said, “ are you serious! Oh my goodness! Thank you so much!”

It was Tyrell’s senior year at Manasas and he had made the varsity team. He was a third string player because Manasas was one of the best teams in the state and had tremendous talent. Although Tyrell was on the basketball team he was still known as a “nerd and dork.” Tyrell made a commitment to himself that he would work the hardest out of everyone on the team that season. Unfortunately he only played about 3 or 4 minutes a game, but that never slowed Tyrell down.

Manasas had an outstanding record that season. They only lost 1 game and won 24, which meant they qualified for the playoffs. After the first 4 playoff games they destroyed each opponent, which meant they were going to the state championship game against the perfect season team, Nashville High school. Although Nashville was good, Manasas was too.

After the first quarter Nashville High was ahead by 12 points. By halftime, Manasas cut the lead to only 7. At the end of the third quarter Manasas was only down by 4. Manasas was doing everything they could to keep up with Nahville. With only 4 minutes left in the game, Jamaal Fair (Manasas Point Guard) jumped up and blocked Nashville Guard C.J White, and landed on his ankle and broke it. Manasas replaced Jamaal with the second string guard, Darren West, who already had 4 fouls. That means one more foul and Darren would be disqualified.

With 20.6 seconds left, Darren picked up his final foul and was disqualified. Manasas coach, Earl Jenkins needed a point guard to replace Darren.

Coach called out “Tyrell here is your chance, don’t let us down. We believe in you!”

Tyrell subbed in for the first time all game. The game was tied at 54 with 20.6 seconds left. Nashville had the ball. C.J. White started to shoot the ball, but Tyrell was right there and blocked him! Unfortunately Nashville recovered the ball. With 6 seconds on the clock Nashville shot the ball and scored. They now had a 2 point lead 0ver Manasas with 4.7 seconds on the clock. Coach Jenkins created a play to give the ball to Chris Anthony to get the ball and shoot a three-pointer to try and win the game.

Manasas had the ball out of bounds and was trying to run the play but Nashville covered Chris so that he couldn’t get the ball and shoot. So they threw it in to Tyrell. With 2.3 seconds on the clock Tyrell went to shoot a three-pointer. His form looked almost perfect, like he had rehearsed it 1 thousand times before.

The buzzer sounded while the ball was in the air… The ball went right through the basket. Manasas WON!

The Fans went crazy. You couldn’t even hear yourself think, it was so loud. The crowd chanted Tyrell’s name. He was their hero. What Tyrell didn’t know was that the scout from Ohio State was in the crowd watching.

After the game was over and the gym calmed down, the scout confronted Tyrell.

The scout said “ Congratulations on the huge game winner! It was unbelievable! I bet you don’t realize who I am? I am the head scout for the Ohio State Buckeyes and I have been watching you play throughout the season and I was very impressed. I have already talked to your coach and he told me that you always worked the hardest out of everyone and that he should have played you more. By judging your GPA and schoolwork you are very intelligent. How would you like the opportunity to play with The Ohio State Buckeyes?”

Tyrell’s mouth dropped! He was in total shock. He replied with “ Of course I would! But sir, I don’t think my family has the money to pay for college.

“I totally understand. I have talked to Your Grandparents and they said the same exact thing as you. That’s why I would like to offer you an athletic scholarship. We will pay for everything you need because we believe you have the talent and you are one of the smartest athletes we have ever seen! What do you say? Are you in?

Tyrell couldn’t believe it! He started to cry with joy. “Of course! I accept!” responded Tyrell.

Tyrell attended Ohio State the following year, and played for their basketball team. Instead of being a back-up Point Guard he was starting. He was only 19 at the time and became an instant star in college basketball. He led the team in scoring with an average of 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and about 1 block per game. Tyrell led the buckeyes that season to their very first national championship in the history of Ohio State. He talked to his grandparents and they all came to the same decision, he was going to enter himself into the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. He was one of the best players in the draft. The Memphis Grizzles had the second pick in the draft and the New York Knicks had the first pick. Tyrell wanted to go first overall, but he wanted to play for Memphis so he could go help his grandparents and be in his hometown.

The NBA commissioner, David Ballard, announced who was selected. Tyrell was really nervous because he hoped that Memphis would select him! When the New York Knicks went to select, his stomach dropped.

“With the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft the New York Knicks select…” David Ballard opened the envelope with the name of the pick on it. “Orlando Watkins from the University of Central Illinois.”
Tyrell was very happy that he now had the chance to be selected by Memphis.

“With the second pick in the 2023 NBA Draft the Memphis Grizzles select…”
David opened the envelope and read the name listed inside: “Tyrell Washington from The Ohio State University.

Tyrell jumped with joy, he and his grandparents started to cry from happiness. That meant Tyrell would be back home with his grandparents in Memphis.

With his first paycheck Tyrell bought a new house for his grandparents and himself. He now could afford much more things because he was making millions of dollars a year.

After 3 seasons in the NBA, at age 22, he became engaged to his high school sweet heart, Gabrielle. After they got married they had two children named James Washington II and Isabella Washington II. They named their children after Tyrell’s parents. He is a very successful player in the NBA, one of the best in the league. During every game he wears two wristbands on his wrist. One has his parent’s names on them in their honor and the other had the promise he mad to his father when he was 8 years old. That year the mayor of Memphis had a statue of Tyrell and his father placed in Manasas Park in honor of Tyrell and his father. The mayor also decided to change the name from Manasas Park to Washington Park in honor of the hometown hero and his family. He knew that he never let his parents down and he did accomplished one thing that stood out above all things he’s ever done… He fulfilled his lifelong promise to his father.