Dairese Layton Gary (born October 21, 1988, pronounced da-REECE) is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at New Mexico, where he was named First-team All-MWC in 2010 and 2011.
High school career
Gary attended Concord High School in Elkhart, Indiana, lettering in two sports, basketball and football. During his junior year at Concord, Gary led the team to the sectional title, averaging 22.3 point per game, four rebounds per game and two assists per game while guiding Concord to a 22–2 record. During his senior year, he led Concord back to another winning record, 13–7, while compiling 21.8 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He shot 56.3% from the floor, 34.7% from three-point range and 69.0% from the foul line during his senior season. He finish his high school career at Concord scoring 1,330 points (ninth all-time at Concord) and as a two-time first team all-area selection, enough to garner a three-star rating from Scout.com. He verbally committed to play for Steve Alford at Iowa as a sophomore, but signed a letter of intent at New Mexico after Alford was hired at the school. "I don't know much about (New Mexico), I know it's warm," he said. Gary's nickname is "Little Bus” because of al resemblance to former NFL running back Jerome “The Bus” Bettis.
College career
Freshman year, 2007–2008
Gary started the last 28 games as the team's point guard, the most starts at from a freshman at point guard in nearly ten years. Gary led the Lobos in assists (as well as being eighth in the Mountain West Conference and first among all MWC newcomers), and second on the team in steals. Gary posted a season-high 18 points in an 80–63 victory over Texas Tech on December 15, connecting on all four of his 3-point attempts. On February 13, 2008, he scored 12 points in a 73–63 win at San Diego State. Due to his freshman success, CollegeHoops.net named Gary and honorable mention High-Major All-Freshman after helping the J. R. Giddens-led team to a 24–9 record, including a NIT berth.
Sophomore year, 2008–2009
After a year as the team's starting point guard, Gary's role was more defined as he began flourishing in his new role, being the only player to start every game. He was second in the Mountain West Conference in assists, fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio and ninth in steals. Along with players like junior Roman Martinez, and seniors Daniel Faris, Chad Toppert and Tony Danridge, the Lobos posted a 22–12 record and a NIT berth, advancing to the second round where Gary put up 15 points, four assists and a pair of steals in a losing effort to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Gary was also instrumental in a late season victory against Colorado State, putting up 18 points (all after halftime), eight assists and four rebounds in an 81–79 double-OT win.
Junior year, 2009–2010
After the departure of the aforementioned Faris, Toppert and Danridge, the burden of leading the New Mexico team to success fell on the shoulders of Roman Martinez, Darington Hobson and Gary. They posted a 12-game winning streak, in which Gary posted five games scoring double figures, including a 21-point, 4-assist, 4-rebound game at the University of San Diego on December 9. Despite the preseason fifth-place rank the Lobos were picked in the Mountain West Conference, the Lobos won 14 straight in the conference, with Gary averaging 14.1 points and 4.4 rebounds during the streak, including 23 points or greater in three games (BYU twice and Colorado State). Gary was honored for his play be being First-Team All-Mountain West and part of the All-Defensive Team in the Mountain West Conference.