Augusta, Ga. - When Tamyrik Fields suited up for the Augusta University basketball team, his progression from his freshman year to senior year was pretty remarkable. While he played in just about every game early on, his skill level wasn't where it really needed to be. After plenty of work - before, during and after practice - Fields became a first team All-Peach Belt Conference player. Now, he's parlayed that into a professional career worldwide. 

Fields grew up in Augusta and was a gym rat that loved to play, no matter where the gym was. He played high school basketball at Aquinas High School in Augusta and was the home town kid on the AU roster.  

Fields gives a ton of credit to head coach Dip Metress and former assistant coach Lenny Carslon for making him the player he is today. But he also never lost the faith in himself to be a better basketball  player.

"I don't think I ever had a doubt in my mind," said Fields. "My main focus was getting better. I felt like if I got better, I'd make it and the sky would be the limit."

Metress said in hindsight he wishes he redshirted Fields his freshman year to give him time to develop. 

"He was a throwback in the sense that if given the chance to play five-on-five, he'd do that and shoot afterwards," said Metress. "He developed tremendously from a guy who didn't really have a post move when he got here to developing one on the floor and has now taken it to a lot of countries." 
 

Fields also passes the praise to Carlson who really helped develop into a complete player. From working on his footwork, to a jump hook and even facing up with a defender and being able to score over him, it was a four year process that turned him into one of the top players in the league.

Since his collegiate days, Fields has seen the world. He started with semipro basketball in Augusta and has played in Mexico, Venezuela, Ireland, Portugual, and Vietnam. He does have his favorite spots.

"It's a toss up between Lisbon, Portugal and Vietnam. Those two places are phenomenal," said Fields.

Playing in Vietnam really stood out to him.

"Red carpet treatment for every game. Just the atmosphere, just the way they treat basketball, it's almost surreal and they love it," Fields added. 

Since he played in Mexico first, it wasn't as much of a culture shock as you might think. He said that when he played in Ireland, that's when the first shock set in, and mainly because the climate is so different than Augusta. 

Fields also played a season on SlamBall, which was basically full contact basketball played on trampolines. It was a random opportunity that an opponent of his had and decided to bring Fields along with him. An opportunity brought on by relationships.

"It was just crazy that I was even able to be a part of that. Someone I played against, we hit it off, and his agent just happen to be a SlamBaller," said Fields. "It was amazing, a great experience. You go from a kid playing it on a trampoline, watching it on TV and then actually being on ESPN."
 

Right now Fields is rehabbing from a knee injury and helping out as a coach at Hephzibah High School, just outside of Augusta. He's hoping to play again in the not to distant future, maybe in Indonesia or back in Vietnam. One day, he wants to go into coaching. He even joked they last longer than players.

Safe to say though, he'll never forget his roots and never forget his time at Augusta University.

"Dip and Lenny are a big part of who I am as far as being a basketball player and being a young man," said Fields. "It was also very nostalgic playing at home and having people from the city I grew up in to come to the games. It was probably the best thing."

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