Tyshaun Goldston, left, and Elijah Woodle have been working out with Mid-State Magic while competing in spring basketball tournaments. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record)
GRAHAM — Tyshaun Goldston of Randleman and Elijah Woodle of Asheboro completed their high school basketball careers, but they have additional hoop dreams.
They’re teammates with the same travel club looking for a shot to latch on with college programs.
“I wanted another chance,” Woodle said.
Woodle, a guard, and Goldston, a versatile player with a wide skill set, are members of the Graham-based Mid-State Magic. They have tournaments to play in this spring, hoping to get noticed for an opportunity on the collegiate level.
“We got to push it as long as we can,” Goldston said.
They both were wide receivers on their football teams, but they were most drawn to basketball.
“That has always been my main focus,” Woodle said. “Football was a close second.”
Woodle, 5-foot-11 and 140 pounds, was a two-year starter for Asheboro. The Blue Comets were a high-powered team in 2023-24 before a dip during the past season.
“School ball didn’t end well,” Woodle said. “(But) the family bond we had, we were all together.”
Goldston was a high-scoring player for Randleman’s Piedmont Athletic Conference championship team. The Tigers lost just once in the regular season on the way to repeating as the league’s title team.
Goldston, who’s 6-5, led the Tigers in points (17.5), rebounds (5.5), assists (3.3) and blocked shots (1.6). He was the team’s top scorer for three consecutive seasons.
There was football recruiting interest in Goldston, whose big-play ability made him a deep threat along with his ability to snatch balls away from defensive backs. He received Division I inquiries for football
“It was in my head I love basketball,” Goldston said. “I like football.”
He was at North Asheboro Middle School before changing districts for high school. But his admiration for basketball had been established.
“Everybody talking to me about playing guard,” he said.
Both athletes competed in track and field for their respective schools.
Since March, Goldston and Woodle often traveled to Graham twice a week for basketball practices with Mid-State Magic.
The players said junior colleges might be their basketball destinations for the coming year.
