Jett Washington’s parents raised him in a competitive sports environment that encouraged growth without pressure.
Jett Washington has never been just another football recruit. From the sun-scorched practice fields of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High School to the storied program at the University of Oregon, Washington carries a legacy far bigger than any jersey number — though the No. 24 he wears for the Ducks says it all.
As the nephew of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, Washington has grown into one of the most electrifying defensive backs in the country, and his freshman season at Oregon marks the beginning of a journey that promises to be anything but ordinary.
Washington’s rise at Bishop Gorman was meteoric. He entered high school as a lanky, multi-sport prospect with enormous upside and left as the No. 1 safety in the country.
The 247Sports rankings placed him at No. 23 overall in the 2026 recruiting cycle and No. 1 in the state of Nevada.
Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 215 pounds, Washington made the conscious decision to shift from wide receiver to safety, choosing the harder path over the spotlight of the offensive side.
Bishop Gorman coach Brent Browner received a surprise call from Washington before his sophomore year — the young athlete wanted to play defense full time. That decision defined his trajectory.
By his senior season, Washington proved the choice was right.
He recorded 59 tackles, 7 pass breakups, 4 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles, helping Bishop Gorman claim their fifth straight state title.
He earned a 2025 ALL-USA National Football Team selection and became one of three five-star recruits to sign with Oregon’s 2026 class — continuing the Ducks’ streak of consensus top-five recruiting cycles under coach Dan Lanning.
Washington made waves ahead of his freshman season when he revealed on Instagram that he would wear No. 24 for the Oregon Ducks — the iconic number his late uncle Kobe Bryant wore for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Throughout his high school career, he gradually embraced his connection to Kobe, wearing purple and gold mouthguards near Bryant’s hometown and donning a Black Mamba undershirt while returning an interception for a touchdown in the Nevada state championship.
In January 2024, he scored 33 points to lead Bishop Gorman’s basketball team to a win inside Crypto.com Arena — the very building where Bryant hung five championship banners.
Washington approaches both sports with the same competitive fire that defined his uncle, and No. 24 on his back tells the whole story.
Jett Washington’s Parents Shaped His Mindset and Love for Sports
Behind every great athlete stands a foundation built by family. For Jett Washington, that foundation comes from two remarkable parents — his mother, Sharia Washington, the older sister of Kobe Bryant and a former Division I volleyball player turned fitness entrepreneur, and his father, Jerrod Washington, a standout University of Virginia running back who came within a step of the NFL.
They brought Jett up in Las Vegas, Nevada, a place he shared with his sisters, Taya and Sydney.
They managed to juggle the demands of a remarkable family history while still allowing their son the space to become his own person.
Sharia Washington, born Sharia Danielle Bryant on March 19, 1976, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, grew up immersed in athletics.
She is the oldest daughter of former NBA player Joe Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant, and her siblings include her younger sister Shaya and brother Kobe.
The family relocated to Rieti, Italy, during her childhood, following their father’s professional basketball career abroad.
Growing up in a household shaped by sport and competition, Sharia developed a deep love for athletics that she carried into college and beyond.
Sharia walked on to the volleyball program at Temple University in 1993 and quickly earned a scholarship through her performances on the court.
She completed a standout collegiate career, accumulated nearly two decades of volleyball coaching experience after graduation, and continued building her identity in the fitness world.
She earned her National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) personal trainer certification, became a certified Zumba instructor, and trained at Las Vegas Fit Body Boot Camp, where she channeled her energy into helping others meet their fitness goals.
Currently, she holds the position of Director of Corporate Sales and Partnerships at SUN50.
This company is known for its UV-protection clothing. Her primary focus is on educating young people about sun safety and the benefits of the clothing line.
As Kobe’s older sister, Sharia shared a uniquely close bond with him that stood apart from the family’s more complicated dynamics in later years.
After the devastating helicopter crash in January 2020 that claimed Kobe and his daughter Gianna, Sharia and her sister Shaya released a joint statement expressing their grief.
To honor them, Sharia got a striking tattoo — a black mamba snake in an infinity shape wrapped around the jersey numbers 2 (Gianna) and 24 (Kobe).
Vanessa Bryant publicly praised the tribute. Sharia continues to post family memories and celebrate her children’s milestones on social media, frequently sharing in the pride of Jett’s athletic rise.
As a mother, Sharia keeps the pressure on Jett measured and healthy. Washington has spoken about how his parents protect him from the weight of the “nephew of Kobe” label.
“Sometimes I feel a little bit of pressure,” he said, “but my parents make sure I don’t feel it too much. They tell me to just go out there and have fun, don’t try to overthink, and just play.“
Jerrod Washington brought his own athletic pedigree to the family.
A star running back at the University of Virginia, he lettered from 1990 to 1993 and built an impressive college career that included 312 carries for 1,651 rushing yards, 27 receptions for 146 yards, and 15 total touchdowns.
His best season came in 1993, when he rushed for a career-high 983 yards as the team’s feature back.
After his senior season, the New England Patriots signed him as a free agent following the 1994 NFL Draft.
He attended training camp but did not make the regular-season roster before the Patriots released him.
Jerrod has spoken openly about how Kobe shaped Jett’s mindset from an early age.
“Jett was Kobe’s guy,” he said.
“Kobe used to tell me, ‘I need him every summer to come work with me.’ He would give Jett words of wisdom. Anytime Jett would play in something, he’d send his uncle a clip, and Kobe would make a comment… They were close.”
That mentorship left an indelible mark on Jett long before his rise to five-star status.
Jerrod also draws a clear line between Kobe’s influence and his own.
“We know about some of the comments and quotes that his uncle gave, and how he played the game and respected the process,” he said.
“Even though it’s two different sports, there was so much passion and tenacity with Kobe that now serves as a guide for anything in life. I think Jett takes that mindset and it’s in his DNA, it’s in his blood. I tell Jett all the time that he has my blood in there, and he has his blood in there.”
Beyond football, Jerrod has made it his mission to ensure Jett enjoys his sport rather than crumbles under expectation.
He actively supported Jett’s dual-sport path at Bishop Gorman and encourages a balanced approach to athletic development.
Jett Washington Grew Up Alongside His Sisters in a Family Grounded in Love and Athletics
Jett Washington’s story does not begin and end with him — it runs through an extended family bound by sport, resilience, and an unbreakable bond forged long before he ever strapped on a helmet.
Jett is the youngest of three children born to Sharia and Jerrod Washington.
His oldest sister, Taya Washington (born around 1998–1999), has drawn glowing descriptions from their mother, who has celebrated her as beautiful, smart, funny, determined, and hardworking.
Middle sister Sydney Washington maintains a quieter public presence but appears alongside her siblings in family photos and shared milestones.
The three siblings have grown up together in Las Vegas, with Jett crediting his family environment as a constant source of support and grounding as his athletic profile soared.
Through his late uncle Kobe and aunt Vanessa Bryant, Jett shares a bond with four cousins — Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri Bryant.
His connection to Gianna, who was just one year his junior, was particularly meaningful.
The two played basketball together and shared a closeness that made her death in the January 2020 helicopter crash all the more personal for Jett.
He has honored her memory by previously wearing No. 2 — her number — in basketball at Bishop Gorman, just as he wears No. 24 for Kobe on the football field.
The Washington and Bryant families have continued to vacation and celebrate life together, including a joint trip to Jamaica, with Vanessa Bryant remaining a close presence in Jett’s life.
