Dariyus Woodson, Goose Creek Memorial
PRIOR TO LAST SEASON, GOOSE CREEK MEMORIAL MEN’S BASKETBALL HAD NEVER WON A PLAYOFF GAME.
Never, ever.
Then in 2021, the Patriots made a historic run to the Regional Semifinals and were just two wins away from advancing to the UIL State Tournament. A key piece to the success of the past two seasons was senior Dariyus Woodson.
“Winning the first playoff game in GCM history, crazy feeling that night,” Woodson said of his favorite memory.
“Nothing comes close.”
This season, GCM once again made a run – reaching the Regional Quarterfinals before bowing out to Beaumont United. Back-to-back runs to the third round is big for a program that never passed the first round just two seasons ago.
“It has been great helping me and my team get the exposure we really need,” Woodson said. “We’ve tried to continue to do that.”
The versatile wing, who stands at 6-foot-7 for the Patriots, has been in talks with multiple colleges at the DI, DII, JUCO and NAIA level. He should have options as his high school career wraps up.
Woodson, who started playing basketball when he was four, has developed his game quite a bit since middle school as his “coaches helped me become the player I am now”.
But who inspires him and serves as a driving force behind Woodson’s play on the hardwood?
“My mom, she continues to make sacrifices for me and my brother and that pushes me to do better,” he said.
Outside of basketball, Woodson has talents beyond getting the ball through the rim.
“I actually like to sing,” he said. “I did it for all three years in middle school, but I had to stop after that because basketball was a lot.”
So, maybe we will see Woodson playing at the next level and singing on the next season of American Idol or The Voice. Woodson was that key piece to the GCM basketball that helped change Patriot history.
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