Syracuse honors Pearl Washington with sweet throwback jerseys

True to his nickname, Dwayne “Pearl” Washington left a shiny, treasured legacy at Syracuse thanks to three standout seasons during the mid-1980s.

The Orange paid tribute to the Brooklyn guard, who died in April at age 52 after battling brain cancer, by donning retro uniforms during their 78-71 loss against former Big East rival Georgetown. The white jerseys featured the iconic script “Syracuse” across the chest and an orange “Pearl” patch on the right shoulder.

Syracuse Basketball announced the tribute jerseys on Twitter before the game with the tagline, “A legendary uniform to honor a legend.” Jim Boeheim’s team also wore special edition Nike sneakers that featured “Pearl” and his jersey No. 31 stitched on the tongue.

The jerseys were just one part of an all-out tribute to Washington, who played at Syracuse from 1986 to 1989. Syracuse handed out commemorative “Pearl” pins to fans and hosted a halftime ceremony that traced his career highlights, which included three straight trips to the NCAA tournament.

Even Syracuse’s new court design, which wasn’t meant entirely as a tribute to Washington, included a nod in his direction. The hardwood features the number 31, Washington’s jersey number, at a spot near midcourt where he famously sank a deep three-pointer against Boston College.