Ashley alumnus a top scorer for Division II men's basketball team

Tyre Gathright only wanted a place to call home away from home.

"My goal was to find a college team where I'm wanted and just play college basketball," the former Ashley standout said.

The journey to find the right college took him to Georgia and Maryland before he landed back in North Carolina.

In Gathright's first season at Saint Augustine's, he is the team's leading scorer and is a four-time Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association newcomer of the week award winner.

The junior doesn't give much detail on what went awry during one-year stints at North Georgia and Frederick Community College other than "something was missing."

After all, he's having too much fun being an impact player for the Raleigh school.

"I feel like here is where I'm suppose to be," said Gathright, who finished his high school career as the Screaming Eagles' all-time leading scorer. "I had to find a place that fits my needs, and I feel I can develop here."

As he adjusted to his new surroundings, the Falcons -- who began the season at 0-6 -- have improved.

He has topped double figure scoring 17 times for the 11-11 squad. That includes a 31-point performance at Catawba in December.

Gathright poured in 22 on Saturday to help the Division II school to a 75-53 win against Fayetteville State, which kept Saint Augustine's within range of CIAA Southern Division leader Johnson C. Smith.

The Falcons have already knocked off the Northern Division's top team. The league tournament begins in three weeks.

Although his time with the Falcons has been short, the junior is already using it to become a leader.

"Before I would always lead by example, but I need to be be more vocal," Gathright said.

Gathright wants to pursue a professional basketball career, whether it's in the NBA, G-League or overseas. He's encouraged for the future thanks to how hard he's worked to succeed in college.

"Don't let me get in the way of myself. My mom and dad always tell me that," Gathright said. "If something goes wrong, I can't let it get in the way."