Mamba In His Blood: Kobe’s Legacy Lives on Through Jett Washington
Anwar Stetson
Five-Star Safety Jett Washington Talks Football, Committing to Oregon, Playing Two Sports, and his Uncle Kobe Bryant: Prep Network Exclusive Interview
The Mamba Nephew
“Relentless.” That’s what comes to mind when Jett Washington hears the phrase “Mamba Mentality.” Decked out in Nike Mamba gear before his matchup with Santa Margarita (Calif.), Washington prepares to lead the defense in a bounce-back opportunity for Bishop Gorman (Nev.).
Last week in Las Vegas, the Bishop Gorman Gaels suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Mater Dei in one of the most anticipated games of the year. Though Washington had a key interception, the Mater Dei Monarchs eventually came out on top 27-24. On Saturday night, Bishop Gorman headed to Southern California to right the ship.
As one of the team’s captains, Washington has a commanding presence. Standing 6’5” and 210 lbs, Jett is head and shoulders above most other players on the field. He slowly paces around the secondary presnap like a vicious reptile ready to strike at a moment’s notice. If they know what’s best for them, opposing quarterbacks usually avoid his side of the field.
In a 14-0 shutout victory, Washington and the Gaels came out on top in an intense defensive effort. Speaking with Jett postgame, I wondered where he gets his intensity from.
Well, it’s in his genes. The rising star is the nephew of NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
Remembering a Legend
Forever venerated in sports history as one of the greatest of all time, Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing in 2020 shocked the sports world. Kobe and his daughter Gigi are eternally eulogized in statues and murals dotted across Los Angeles.
Their memory will be imprinted in the soul of Southern California long after their physical testaments fade. The portraits of Kobe and Gigi painted around the world show a softer side of the Black Mamba. Bryant’s monstrous presence on the court evoked a masochistic level of dedication and a cold-hearted personality that put off some teammates.
But since his passing, we’ve seen another side of Kobe: the side that Washington, the son of Kobe’s sister Sharia Washington, remembers the most. “Just the positive energy and how special he made you feel every time you’re around him,” Washington said. “Just being around him and the great, positive vibes he had.”
Versatility
On the field, the 6’5” senior brings the “Mamba” energy that made his late uncle so famous. A big tackle on Santa Margarita’s running back in the first half helped prevent the Eagles from scoring at all in the game despite multiple redzone trips.
With a basketball player’s frame, Bishop Gorman also uses Washington on the offensive side of the ball. Though he wasn’t able to score Saturday night, Washington came in for a few snaps as a wide receiver in the redzone. It’s rare for safeties to be so tall, but Washington makes it work.
Washington’s versatility comes in handy, but you can clearly see his fire and passion when it comes to being a defender. That’s a big reason why the safety is headed to Oregon to play for head coach Dan Lanning in Eugene next fall. “Coach Lanning being a defensive head coach, that was a really big part for me, so knowing the relationship I have with those coaches is the main reason.”
Don’t get me wrong, the Mamba mentality works on the court just like it does on the gridiron. Washington loves football, but he also shined as a basketball player for the Gaels. He was a part of back-to-back titles for the Bishop Gorman basketball team. He scored 21 points in last year’s championship game.
Could he play both sports next year at Oregon?
“Oh yeah, that’s definitely been a thought of mine,” Washington said, smiling. “It does come with a lot of work though, but that’s definitely crossed my mind a couple of times.”
But the young star still has unfinished business at the high school level. It was important to the team to avoid back-to-back losses, especially after the emotionally charged game against Mater Dei.
Jett Washington is Oregon’s highest rated recruit in the 2026 Class
Regrouping After a Tough Loss
How did the 17-year-old and his Gaels regroup?
“I really just think focusing on us,” Washington said. “Going back to the building, correcting our mistakes, and just knowing that we’re a good team. We’ve just got to shake that off and play with a chip on our shoulder this week.”
Kobe grew up in the pristine and ancient villages of Italy, training with top coaches alongside his dad Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, a former NBA player. He didn’t need to deal with poverty or harsh living conditions to motivate him to succeed. Somehow, his passion came solely from within.
Bishop Gorman is a bit similar. It’s a factory for winning, dominating Nevada sports with 22 state football championships and three national championships. The top-notch private school has every resource for kids to succeed in athletics and relatively little competition amongst other local schools. It’s easy to live life on easy mode, but Jett’s passion also comes from within.
“Donuts.” You can see the focus in Jett’s eyes when he answers what he wants to take from this victory through the rest of the season. The young safety wants to see a “zero” (sometimes referred to as a “donut”) on the scoreboard in every win against an opposing team. “That’s something definitely [that we want] going into league play. To be dominant every single play out there, and they can’t win if they don’t score, so just [being] dominant every time we’re out there.”
That’s Mamba Mentality at its finest.