Dutcher & Aztecs strike again: land 4-Star guard Miles Byrd
The good news keeps coming for Brian Dutcher and the Aztecs. Eight days after landing the services of four-star power forward Elijah Saunders, they received a commitment from guard Miles Byrd.
Byrd, a 6’7” shooting guard from Stockton, California, took official visits to St. Mary’s, Colorado State, Pacific, and Washington in addition to SDSU. Byrd announced his commitment on social media.
Byrd is a consensus four-star recruit and the tenth best shooting guard prospect according to 247 Sports. Where he fits at SDSU is not hard to see. He is the type of player Brian Dutcher has been bringing into the program lately. Tall with excellent range on his jumper, he profiles similarly to a player like Chad Baker-Mazara. With the ability to space the floor on offense and guard multiple positions on defense, Byrd might be able to push for playing time as a true freshman.
Byrd possesses the advantage of being left-handed. The difference between getting a catch and shoot three off over the outstretched arm of a defender and having your shot blocked can be a matter of inches. Defenders are more accustomed to guarding right-handers, and Byrd’s release from his left hand combined with his 6’7” frame will make defenders play a step or two closer to Byrd on the outside, which might be enough for him to see the court next season.
How early he is able to contribute, of course, will be determined by how well he plays on the defensive end. That side of the ball might come slower.
Byrd is not the biggest player, so a year in a college weight program will do him good. At his height, he is often the tallest player on high school courts. He is not yet accustomed to guarding smaller, quicker players on the perimeter that will be asked to play in college.
CATCH ME IN DAYGOOO. 1000% Committed @Aztec_MBB #GoAztecs ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/PNQTG81f7T
— Miles Byrd (@_mbyrd21) October 2, 2021
“Of course, it’s not easy to play division one basketball as a freshman, especially for someone who’s a little bit underweight like myself, but defensively they see a lot of potential in me,” Byrd told 247 Sports. “To get on the court, Coach Dutcher makes defense a priority, so I should be able to carve some minutes out as a freshman. Also playing a guard role for them, being able to pass the ball and score the ball, I should have a pretty big freshman year.”
San Diego State will be losing at least Trey Pulliam at guard next season. Adam Seiko, though he has an additional year of eligibility, has said this is his last year on the Mesa. Matt Bradley, likewise, is likely gone after the season. Byrd will not be first in line to replace those three players, but he enters the program at a time of need at a position he plays.
Byrd’s commitment is the second for the class of 2022. They are a finalist for another four-star player, guard Koren Johnson. If Dutcher is able to land Johnson, the class of 2022 will need a nickname like the Fab 5. “Terrific 3” or “Tremendous Trio” would do nicely.
2022 four-star Koren Johnson tells @On3Recruits he’s down to three schools: Arizona, San Diego State, and Washington.
Story: https://t.co/rn8v5QtLUF pic.twitter.com/9zizGXUfhS
— Joseph Tipton (@TiptonEdits) September 26, 2021
My earliest sport’s memory involve tailgating at the Murph, running down the circular exit ramps, and seeing the Padres, Chargers and Aztecs play. As a second generation Aztec, I am passionate about all things SDSU. Other interests include raising my four children, being a great husband and teaching high school.
