Dwayne Alonzo “Pearl” Washington was born on January 6, 1964, and died on April 20, 2016.

He was an American college and professional basketball player.

Dwayne was a 6’2″ (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) guard.

Dwayne Washington grew up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, where he acquired his nickname as an eight-year-old in a taunting comparison to Earl “the Pearl” Monroe.

Dwayne Washington was a playground phenomenon from Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, and was the number 1 overall ranked high school player in 1983.

Washington brought his flashy play to Syracuse University and the Carrier Dome.

The Pearl was the master of the “shake and bake”, in which he would leave his defensive opposition standing still while he drove by them for a layup.

He was selected by the New Jersey Nets in the 1st round (13th pick) of the 1986 NBA draft.

He averaged 9 points per game, in two seasons with the Nets.

During 1988, the Miami Heat selected him in their expansion draft.

Washington played 54 games for the Heat before being released.

Following the end of his contract, Washington played for the Rapid City Thrillers and San Jose Jammers in the Continental Basketball Association.

He had surgery on August 27, 2015, at Crouse Hospital to address a malignant brain tumor.

Dwayne Washington passed away at 52 yrs old.