This Week In History: Beaufort’s Kenny Washington has some big NCAA March Madness moments

March 19

1965: Robert Smalls High School graduate Kenny Washington scores 10 points and grabs 7 rebounds in the UCLA Bruins’ 108-89 win over Wichita State in the NCAA men’s basketball semifinal at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore. UCLA (27-2) advanced to the national championship game against Michigan.

2016: The Pat Conroy Literary Center is incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The center houses a collection of Conroy memorabilia and seeks to continue his legacy.

2019: Justin Jarrett tenders his resignation as Editor of The Island News. He ran the newspaper through April 2.

March 20

1565: Pedro Menendez de Aviles, eventual founder of Santa Elena, is named the first Governor of Florida by Spanish King Philip II.

1964:Robert Smalls High School graduate Kenny Washington scores 13 points and grabs 6 rebounds to help lead the UCLA Bruins (29-0) past Kansas State, 90-84, in the NCAA men’s basketball national semifinal at Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium. UCLA advanced to the national championship game against Duke.

1965: Robert Smalls High School graduate Kenny Washington scores 17 points and grabs 5 rebounds as the UCLA Bruins defeat Michigan, 91-80, in the NCAA men’s national championship game at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore. The championship was the second straight for UCLA (28-2) and head coach John Wooden.

March 21

1964: Robert Smalls High School graduate Kenny Washington scores 26 points – on 11-for-16 shooting – and grabs 12 rebounds to lead theUCLA Bruins (30-0) to a 98-83 upset of Duke in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game at Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium. The National Championship was the first of a record 10 legendary UCLA coach John Wooden, and the 1964 team has been selected by Sports Illustrated as the most influential college basketball team of all-time.

Compiled by Mike McCombs