Dayton freshman Washington makes most of first extended playing time

“I’m just thankful coach Grant gave me the opportunity to go out there for the last couple seconds,” said Swerlein, one of three walk-on guards on the roster. “I was disappointed we didn’t make the NCAA tournament, but if we had to be in the NIT, (Toledo) is a good place to be.”

Swerlein wasn’t the only player who rarely sees action to get on the court. With point guard Malachi Smith sidelined by a sprained ankle, Dayton had 10 scholarship players available. Grant made the most of a short bench. Walk-on Christian Wilson entered the game four different times and played a total of five minutes. Moulaye Sissoko scored eight points in 10 minutes.

The most notable rotation decision had to do with Kaleb Washington. One of four members of Dayton’s 2021 recruiting class, the highest-ranked class this century at Dayton, Washington didn’t play at all in Dayton’s first seven games and saw only 35 minutes in nine appearances in the regular season. Against Toledo, he played a career-high 12 minutes.

Washington, a 6-foot-7 forward from Wheeler High School and Mableton, Ga., committed to Dayton two days after DaRon Holmes II made the same decision in October 2020. Smith became the first member of the class that August. Lynn Greer III later joined the group.

Holmes started every game this season and won the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year Award. Smith earned a starting job in the fourth game of the season, won the MVP award at the ESPN Events Invitational and joined Holmes on the All-A-10 rookie team. Greer earned quality minutes in the first 10 games but transferred to Saint Joseph’s in January and will resume his college career in his hometown next season.

All season long, Washington has sat on the bench next to Zimi Nwokeji, who also has struggled to find playing time, and Richard Amaefule, who’s redshirting, and waited for a chance. It finally came Wednesday. He had five points on 2-of-3 shooting and one rebound and one assist.

Washington scored on a fast-break layup on his first offensive possession and later threw a long outlet pass to Sissoko for a layup. He made his first career 3-pointer — Dayton’s final basket of the game — in the final minute.

“I just had to stay mentally ready,” Washington said. “I had to be focused so when I came into the game, I could do my job.”

In the brief glimpses the media gets of the team working out at the Cronin Center, players like Washington, Nwokeji and Amaefule are often working with the graduate assistants — LeRon Black and Tyler Carter — as student managers rebound so they can get extra shots before the team practices.

Washington said he’s gotten better every day throughout the season but has gotten frustrated by his lack of playing time.

“I think I can help,” he said. “Just like today. I helped a lot. Now we’ll see what’s going to happen down the road.”

Washington was asked Wednesday if he thinks there’s a future for him at Dayton.

“I think so,” he said. “I want to stay. I’m not going to lie. I want to stay.”

It’s too early to do a deep dive into Dayton’s 2022-23 roster because the 2021-22 season is not over. No. 1 seed Dayton (24-10) plays No. 4 Vanderbilt (18-16) at 3 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., in the second round of the NIT.

A victory would earn the Flyers a home game in the quarterfinals — likely on Wednesday — against No. 2 Xavier (19-13) or No. 3 Florida (20-13), who play at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati. Dayton, Vanderbilt, Xavier and Florida are four of the 16 teams remaining who are competing for a spot in the NIT semifinals, which will take place March 29 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Two other A-10 teams are alive. Virginia Commonwealth plays at Wake Forest at 4 p.m. Saturday. St. Bonaventure plays at Oklahoma at 8 p.m. Sunday. Saint Louis lost 80-68 at home to Northern Iowa in the first round Wednesday.

As soon as Dayton’s season ends, eyes will focus on the decision UD players make in the days and weeks ahead. Rodney Chatman (Vanderbilt), Luke Frazier (Ohio) and Dwayne Cohill (Youngstown State) entered the transfer portal last spring.

This Dayton team could return everyone because all 12 players on the roster have eligibility remaining. In this day of player movement, it’s unlikely everyone will stay at UD. A player can transfer once and not have to sit out a season or can graduate and play right away at a new school.

Washington said he gets asked all the time about his future. He said likes the school and his teammates. Holmes and Smith are his roommates at Marycrest. They tell him to stay relaxed and that he’s going to be a pro someday.

“I love Deuce and Mali,” Washington said. “Those are my guys. Those are my brothers.”

Holmes, who led Dayton with 20 points, praised Washington’s skills after the game.

“He’s done a great job this year,” Holmes said. “He’s going to be a problem. He can do it all. But he’s still learning. We all are.”

This was Washington’s first appearance in a game since Feb. 12 when he scored four points in eight minutes against George Washington. He had a knee issue late in the season and also missed a game because of a death in the family. He’s healthy now and looked confident and comfortable on the court against Toledo.

“I thought he did a good job today.,” Grant said. “It was great to see him be able to go out there and understand what he needed to be able to do to help the team be successful.”

Asked if he had high hopes for Washington next season based on what he’s seen in practice this season, Grant said, “We’ve got high hopes for all our guys. We’ve got a good team, and we feel like we’re going to continue to grow everybody on our team.”

Washington said the coaches have counseled him to keep ready physically, mentally and emotionally. He was Wednesday. He hopes for more chances in the future. He thinks he can help Dayton play at a faster pace when that chance comes.

“Right now, we’re a slow-paced team,” he said. “I think I will make the team move fast and be quick. I like to push the ball. I don’t like to get the rebound and look for someone to bring it up. I feel like I can dribble and bring it up. I can rebound, be athletic and long, play defense. I think I can help with everything, honestly.”