In 2019, Washington, of Delhi, La., and Carpenter, of Natchitoches, La., were relatively unknown basketball prospects. Both ended their senior seasons of prep basketball without a college commitment, but being selected to play in the 2019 Louisiana High School Coaches Association All-Star Game provided the two high school standouts – Washington of Delhi High and Carpenter of Natchitoches Central – an opportunity to garner last-minute interest from college recruiters. Hosted in Bossier City, La., the showcase was where Washington and Carpenter first stepped onto the hardwood together – as opponents.
“Going into that game I didn’t really know about Calvin,” said Washington, a 6-foot-8 forward who grew up about two hours from Natchitoches, “but during the game, he really impressed me.
“He was doing a lot of dunking, impressive shooting, and the way he was dribbling and handling the ball, it impressed me a lot.”
Unbeknownst to Washington, Carpenter had already done his homework.
“I discovered him on Instagram; basketball players share stuff all the time and I saw a highlight reel of his on my feed,” the 6-foot-3 point guard said. “I didn’t know who he was, but he caught my attention. You never know from a video if someone is going to be as good as you think, but during the all-star game, he was just shooting over everybody. Nobody was in his face; he was shooting like people weren’t even there.”
Carpenter led the West to a 102-100 victory and earned MVP recognition with a team-best 15 points. Washington paced the West with 17 points and was quick to rib Carpenter.
“I would have been the MVP if we had won,” Washington said with a laugh.
The LHSCA All-Star game not only served as Washington and Carpenter’s introduction, but also provided Blinn head men’s basketball coach Scott Schumacher his first glimpse of his future stars, igniting the recruiting process while also planting the seeds for a future friendship.
(Pictured: Blinn College’s Tyler Washington, left, and Calvin Carpenter)
“When we first got our eyes on those two guys, we knew from a physical standpoint that they were special and that they could fit in our program,” said Schumacher, now in his 10th year at Blinn. “Then we visited with them, and they were unbelievable young men. We immediately knew they would fit at Blinn wonderfully based on the type of people we recruit here.”
Soon enough, offers were made and accepted, and the kids from small-town Louisiana were on their way to another small town. This time they were making the trip as teammates.
“I felt like we were from the same area, so we would understand each other more and I felt like there was a mutual experience there that we could bond over because we were built the same way,” Carpenter said.
“Us being from Louisiana and close by each other, I was happy; it was like a little slice of home,” Washington added.
Before they suited up for their first collegiate season, Carpenter and Washington represented Blinn as teammates for the first time during a junior college summer showcase at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. When Carpenter and Washington arrived in Brenham, they did so as teammates, roommates, and friends.
“As time went on, we got really close,” said Washington. “I felt like I knew him my entire life; I saw him like a brother.”
“He’s definitely like a big brother to me,” added Carpenter.
The positive relationship between Washington and Carpenter has coincided with positive results both on the court and in the classroom. Across three seasons, the tandem has been part of 50 victories, including this season’s 16-11 record with one regular-season game remaining.
For their careers, Washington has averaged a near-double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds per game (50 career games), while Carpenter has proven himself a reliable scorer with almost 11 points per outing (64 games).
Their success largely has relied on their personal bond.
“When games end, we’re immediately on the couch together breaking down the film to see what went right and what went wrong,” Carpenter said.
“We have conversations about different plays throughout the games and talk about what we could have done better,” added Washington. “A lot of times, we’ll head over to the Kruse Center and play a few pick-up games and just practice on our own. It just helps both of us.”
The efforts put forth by the two athletes have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated by Schumacher, who said having the third-year players lead his program this season has been a blessing.
(Pictured: Blinn College’s Calvin Carpenter)
“Calvin has a never-ending motor and he plays hard all the time – he never gets tired,” Schumacher said. “He’s also an incredible scorer who attacks the basketball offensively with a relentlessness that is very difficult to guard.
“Tyler is a complete mismatch. He’s a unicorn, as they say in the NBA. He can play the wing; he can play inside … he is one of the best rebounders I’ve ever coached. His athleticism and length and quick-leaping ability allow him to get a lot of rebounds and score over even the best defenders. To basically average a double-double in Region XIV for the last two years, you have to be a really, really good player, and Tyler is a really, really good player.”
Beyond their athletic contributions, Schumacher also has witnessed a personal relationship fostered by Blinn basketball.
“I’ve been doing this for 33 years, and guys who play with each other still stay in touch with each other,” Schumacher said. “Calvin and Tyler are going to be lifelong friends; they’re going to know each other’s families, they’re going to know each other’s kids, they’re going to have a bond that’s never going to be broken.
“During these last three years, between injuries, COVID-19, the normal adversity of athletics … they’ve been through everything. These have been some formidable years that they’ve spent together, and those guys maybe don’t realize it now, but they’re going to be lifelong friends.”
Blinn’s season will conclude later this spring, and Carpenter and Washington will depart Brenham with their associate degrees before suiting up for a new college and a new basketball program. Both players said that wherever their future may hold, the lessons learned as Buccaneers will accompany them on their journeys.
“Blinn has been like a second home,” said Carpenter. “I just think about all of the growing up I did here … I held my own, and just being around teammates and growing up together; it was a good learning experience, and I’m not going to lie, I’m going to miss it.”
“Blinn taught me that I could make it on my own,” Washington added. “I learned a lot about myself, I grew up, and really learned to take life into my own hands. I really matured outside of just being a basketball player.”
Schumacher said that apart from their performances as Buccaneers on the hardwood, it will be the duo’s trip across the graduation stage that he will remember most.
(Pictured: Blinn College’s Tyler Washington)
“We build very, very strong relationships with our players, and the fact that I’ve been able to walk into the gym the last three years and see Tyler and CJ, that’s special,” Schumacher said. “They’re really good guys and I’ve enjoyed coaching them tremendously. They’ve allowed me to coach them, which is also very important because they want to get better. They’re great people and that’s why you want to see them get their degrees and provide the best possible future for their futures.”
There is no guarantee that Washington and Carpenter will make another joint venture to their next basketball destination. Washington is currently in conversation with programs such as the University of Texas and Prairie View A&M, while Carpenter has drawn interest from schools such as the University of New Orleans and South Carolina State.
According to the two men, however, distance will have little effect on their formidable friendship.
“Our friendship is bigger than basketball now,” Carpenter said. “Tyler is somebody I see always being in my life moving forward.”
“I see our relationship staying the same way it is now, never changing,” Washington added. “If we separate, I feel like we’ll talk, Facetime, we’ll link up together. That’s what brothers do.”
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
