Jalen Washington makes game-winning block against N.C. State in first double-double performance

RALEIGH — Jalen Washington has waited. 

The junior center spent two seasons behind former UNC center Armando Bacot before earning the starting role. He's worked to adjust while experiencing a silent season. He's made countless tweaks. He's waited to show what he can do. He's waited for a moment like this. 

With five seconds left to play and a chance for N.C. State to send the game into overtime, Washington readied himself low in the post and surveyed. Jayden Taylor drove to the basket and attempted the game-altering layup. 

Washington anticipated the shot. He jumped and his hand met the ball. Rejected. Game over.

He flexed. Washington jogged past the N.C. State bench flashing the "Wolfpack Down" symbol with his hands. RJ Davis ran alongside him, grabbing Washington's jersey and celebrating. Elliot Cadeau joined in too and put up the same symbol. Washington's moment finally arrived. 

"He's waited his turn," head coach Hubert Davis said. "And he has such a burning desire to please his teammates [and] please his coaches. He really wants to do well."

Not only did the junior come up with the game-winning slam, but he also made the game-clinching block that guided the Tar Heels to a 63-61 victory over rival N.C. State on Saturday afternoon in the Lenovo Center. For the first time in his career, Washington had a double-double, recording 11 points and a career-high 12 rebonds. Washington also tallied a game-high three blocks and has recorded 12 blocks over the last three games. It's the most blocks in a three game stretch at UNC since Brice Johnson did it during the 2016 NCAA tournament.

Although Washington kept his nose to the grindstone, the tweaks and adjustments have been clouded by judgement. Washington tried to ignore anything outside of the court. 

"[I've done] my due diligence and just control what I can control," Washington said. "And whenever my times comes, [I'm just] ready."

But what about the uncontrollable?

To junior guard Seth Trimble, it's hard to play at North Carolina. There's expectations as soon as you step on campus from players themselves, fans, coaches and parents. Trimble said the pressure is felt so intensely that it's hard to ignore, especially if you don't meet those expectations.

"Maybe you don't perform as well as you can right away, like Jalen and I did our freshmen year, and then you hear that hate," Trimble said. "You hear that hate from the team. You hear that hate individually. So it's a lot that interferes with the positive process you want to go through. So just for him to be able to persevere. He got a lot of hate this year."

Yes, there's pressure, but what about following in the footsteps of UNC's all-time rebounding and double-double leader in Bacot? Or becoming the starting center for a team that won the ACC regular season title and secured the No. 1-seed in the NCAA tournament last year? Or to now be on a team with six early losses looking to claw its way back into tournament contention? 

Prior to N.C. State, Washington averaged 5.9 points per game and 4.8 rebounds. In North Carolina's last outing against SMU, he was held scoreless. He has only recorded double-digits twice.

Still, he trusted that his time would come.

"[I've just done] a better job defensively on the weak side, coming to get blocks, altering shots, just playing tougher and giving more effort," Washington said. 

So, Washington changed the narrative against a Tobacco Road rival. With nine points and 10 rebounds already, Washington re-entered the game with over five and a half minutes remaining. 

Washington sent a pass to first-year guard Ian Jackson, who nailed the 3-pointer to put the Tar Heels up by two. On the next possession, N.C. State guard Marcus Hill hit a jumper to tie the game 61-61. When Hill turned the ball over with 41 seconds remaining two possessions later, North Carolina called a timeout.

Hubert Davis made jokes inside the huddle. He tried to keep the situation light even though a seventh loss knocked on UNC's door. He said to be in a situation like this is a privilege. 

But coming out of the timeout, UNC's play was broken up. N.C. State's Michael O'Connell and Ben Middlebrooks trapped sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau on the left side of the court. Cadeau passed to a ready and open Washington in the post for the two-handed slam. 63-61.

They made a play out of nothing. 

The block came 20 seconds later. Then, the celebrations and taunting the Wolfpack bench. 

"For him to be able to step into a bigger role this year, and especially these last few games, I'm very, very happy to see because he means everything to this team," Trimble said. 

The Tar Heels cornered Washington in the locker room. They tapped him on the head. They hugged him. The team eventually formed a huddle and all made that same Wolfpack down symbol. 

Hubert Davis watched from afar as they embraced Washington, who dreamed of experiencing something like this — to please his teammates, coaches and parents.

And more than anything, to please himself.

Davis will never forget it. 

"To see him being celebrated in the locker room amongst his teammates is something I'll remember for the rest of my life."

@_emmahmoon

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