That sucking sound you heard in August was the gasp of basketball purists around the country when they heard that two of the nation’s top high school basketball players said they were going to play football this fall.

Tony Wroten Jr. of Seattle’s Garfield High School and Josh Smith of Kent’s Kentwood High are, by some national recruiting experts, the best high school basketball players at their positions in America. After the announcements that they would play football, some surely were asking, “Why risk it all?”

The fears became a reality for Wroten. Wroten, whose father played football for the University of Washington, made an immediate impact in his first football game. He had two interceptions as a defensive back and seven receptions, including a touchdown, as a wide receiver. Before the evening was over he also had a knee injury. He underwent surgery last week, and he will miss his junior year of basketball.

Oak Harbor High School sophomore basketball player Michael Washington Jr. also decided to give football a try this year. Though his decision didn’t send a tremor through the national basketball Web sites, it is just as risky.

Washington Jr., one of the top players in the Northwest, is beginning to get national attention, and he is just as likely as Wroten or Smith to receive a full-ride to play basketball in college.

Last winter Washington Jr. became just the second freshman to regularly start for the Oak Harbor High School varsity basketball team in the last 50 years. The other, Brannon Stone, a 1998 graduate, received a scholarship and started four years for Seattle Pacific University.

Washington Jr. led the Wildcats in scoring and assists last winter and was second team all-conference. He is receiving serious attention from many of the Northwest Division I colleges.

He has been named by one publication, Northwest Hoops, as the top sophomore off guard in the state. Last weekend he attended the prestigious Full Court Press Camp in California for the nation’s top freshmen and sophomores. Frank Burlison of the Long Beach Press-Telegram called Washington Jr. “one of the best non-Southern California” players at the camp. Joel Francisco, writing for Scouts Inc. and ESPN, called Washington Jr. “one of the major surprises of the camp.”

So with a free college education at his finger tips, why play football?

After seeing an article about LeBron James’ high school football exploits, Washington Jr. decided he would like to give high school football a try. (He did play youth football in the past.)

Washington Jr. said playing football is making him stronger and tougher, qualities he believes will only improve his abilities as a basketball player. He added, “I want to have fun as a high school kid. I like the glory of football, the Friday Night Lights.”

He admits that he sometimes thinks about the risks of playing football, but said the benefits far outweigh the slim possibility of getting severely injured. Free time, not getting hurt, is his biggest concern.

He said, “I go to football practice, I go to basketball workout, I do my homework, then I go to bed. The next day I do the same thing. But playing football is worth it.”

Washington Jr.’s father, Mike Sr., has more to lose than just tuition payments if Washington Jr. is injured. Washington Sr. is the Oak Harbor High School varsity basketball coach.

Washington Sr. said, “I was concerned when he first said he wanted to play.” Senior’s fear wasn’t just an injury, but that his son wouldn’t have time to improve his basketball skills, and if he did spent time on both sports, he wouldn’t have time for homework. (Washington Jr. is an honor student.) So far it has all worked out. Father and son go to the base gym in the evenings to work on basketball and Washington Jr. has kept his grades up.

Washington Sr. never considered denying his son’s wish to play football. He said, “My relationship with him is more important than the game of basketball. I had to accept it because it is his life. In life when you have an itch, you have to scratch it. He has an itch.”

Speaking from the perspective as the OHHS basketball coach, Washington Sr. said, “If he was to get injured I feel that we could still be a good basketball team. However, we will have to change the way I intend to play. We will have to be a little more conservative.”

How does Washington Sr. feel when he sees his son trot onto the football field? “Nervous, scared, excited. I remember the first game, he did not play very much and I was fine with that. But now since he has played, I am excited for Fridays to come and am very happy for him and the team. Coaches (Jay) Turner and (Mike) Fisher are two great coaches and people. I am glad he is playing for them.”

When Turner found out Washington Jr. was going to play football, he was “very excited.” He added, “I believe it’s very benefincial for high school athletes to not specialize in one sport and to play as many sports as possible.”

Turner said Washington Jr. has had a “huge impact, much bigger than anyone of us thought. He’s a very gifted athlete who has a lot of natural ability for football. He definitely does not play or act like a sophomore.”

Going into last night’s game, Washington Jr. was tied for first in the Western Conferenece North in touchdown receptions, six; fourth in catches, 17; and sixth in yards, 226 – all in essentially one less game than the league’s other players since Washington took part in only a few snaps in the Wildcats’ first contest.

LeBron James, and Allen Iverson for that matter, played high school football. Now, so does Mike Washington Jr.