 Washington was highly recruited out of high school and seriously considered the University of Hawaii, but he decided to play college basketball for perennial national champion UCLA and legendary coach John Wooden.In his three seasons at UCLA, the Bruins went 26-4, 28-3 and 28-4, won three Pac-8 championships and made three Final Fours.In Washington's sophomore season of 1974–75, the Bruins captured the NCAA title.