Scarlet Sunrise: Duane Washington Jr. signs two-way contract with New York Knicks

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

Duane Washington Jr. signs two-way contract with New York Knicks

Former Ohio State standout Duane Washington Jr. signed a two-way contract with the New York Knicks Tuesday. Washington was waived by the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 1, which was a week before they made the trade for Kevin Durant. Originally undrafted in 2021, Washington averaged 12.7 minutes, 7.9 points, 2.0 assists and 1.2 rebounds per game in 31 outings with Phoenix this season. That included three starts.

.@nyknicks Sign Duane Washington Jr. to a Two-Way Contract pic.twitter.com/YEpzvQksSe

— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) February 28, 2023

Duane Washington Jr. BALLED out for the @Suns!

☀ 31 PTS (10-19 FGM)
☀ 4 AST
☀ 3 STL pic.twitter.com/0UrnUOrnvH

— NBA (@NBA) October 13, 2022

Before his stint with the Suns, Washington spent 48 games with the Indiana Pacers in 2021-22. As was the case in Phoenix, the 6-foot-3 guard wasn’t afraid to score in Indiana. He averaged 20.2 minutes, 9.9 points, 1.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game. In his two seasons in the NBA, he’s posted eight 20-point performances and shot 37.1% from 3-point land.

Washington left Ohio State ranked fourth in program history with 185 career makes from beyond the arc. He averaged 16.4 points per game as a junior, his final year in Columbus. Washington set a Big Ten Tournament record that season with 92 combined points in four games.

He’s turned heads at the next level but has yet to carve out a long-term role with a team. Now, he has another chance.

Sean McNeil has battled through season of anguish, on and off the court, at Ohio State

The 2022-23 season hasn’t been easy for Ohio State. And that’s an understatement. Barring a miraculous Big Ten Tournament run, the Buckeyes are on track to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time in head coach Chris Holtmann’s six-year tenure.

It’s not the kind of season anyone in Columbus expected. That goes for Sean McNeil, too. The West Virginia grad transfer came to Ohio State to get closer to home and to make The Dance again, something he did only once in his three years with the Mountaineers.

But the Buckeyes’ on-court struggles have compounded with two life-altering events for McNeil this year. In the fall, McNeil’s father suffered a non-fatal heart attack, and, within the span of 24 hours, McNeil then lost a close friend.

“This year, personally, has been probably the toughest year I’ve gone through for a number of reasons,” McNeil said.

For the full story, go here.

Lettermen Row NFL Combine HQ

The NFL Combine is underway.

Eight former Ohio State players will be at this year’s pre-draft showcase: quarterback C.J. Stroud, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, offensive tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, center Luke Wypler, defensive end Zach Harrison, cornerback Cameron Brown and safety Ronnie Hickman.

Lettermen Row is keeping track of all Buckeyes-related happenings in Indianapolis.

To find out this week’s schedule and the latest Ohio State news from the NFL Combine — such as Stroud deciding to throw in the event — check out our one-stop shop here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 185 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 269 days

Are you subscribed yet?

Are you ready to get all your latest Ohio State news in one place? Become a member of Lettermen Row today. With your Lettermen Row/On3+ membership, you’ll not only have access to the everything that’s happening with the Buckeyes, but you’ll also be able to peruse other fan sites within the network to hear just how rivals are feeling about Ohio State, as well. Make sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and on Youtube for all the latest Buckeyes news you need to know.