Warriors Star Darin Washington Transfers to Edgewood

The star quarterback that led Havre de Grace to its first state championship appearance in 22 years has transferred.

Darin Washington, a junior multi-sport athlete, has withdrawn from Havre de Grace High School. Multiple sources have confirmed Washington has enrolled at Edgewood High School.

Washington’s Facebook profile notes that he lives in Edgewood and “goes to Edgewood Senior High.”

Washington was most recently a starting small forward on the Warriors first-place basketball team.

Washington was a second-team All-Metro selection by The Sun in football following the fall season, in which he led Havre de Grace to the Class 1A state championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. The Warriors lost to Dunbar, 22-12, in their first state title game since 1988.

Washington, a cousin of Warriors coach Johnny Brooks, has long been the subject of message board banter and countywide rumor about his eligibility. The presence of Washington and other talented athletes on the Warriors team sparked comments on Patch in October and November questioning the legality of their enrollment at Havre de Grace.

Washington—as well as senior running back Mike Kelly and the rest of his teammates—was enrolled legally, Patch confirmed through Harford County Public School sources.

Washington took over the starting quarterback job at Havre de Grace as a freshman two years ago, opening the eyes of coaches and analysts around the county.

He was deemed academically ineligible the morning of the first game of his sophomore season, just before the Warriors were to play John Carroll. Washington subsequently transferred to a school out of state. A story at MDHigh.com lists Washington as having “transferred to West Lake High in Atlanta where he played in just four games (he threw six touchdown passes) due to transfer rules."

The same story quotes Brooks as saying Rutgers and Georgia were high on Washington in the recruiting race for the talented athlete.

Rivals.com lists the schools under consideration on Washington’s profile as Maryland, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Georgia, and Boston College.

Washington returned to Havre de Grace High School for the 2010-2011 school year. He began the season amid more questions about the legitimacy of Washington’s residency, and sat out the Warriors’ season-opening win.

The 6-foot-3 signal-caller returned to defeat Perryville, and ultimately throw for 2,312 yards and 27 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. He also rushed for nine touchdowns.

Brooks could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.

The Warriors basketball team—which took over first place in the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference Chesapeake Division last week—hosts Perryville Wednesday night, visits C. Milton Wright Thursday, and hosts Fallston Friday.