Silly season is here, even if the portal doesn’t officially open until April 7th, players are already announcing their intentions, and agents are shopping their guys. According to KSR, Kentucky may be looking to dip into the Mountain West point guard market again with San Diego State’s Miles Byrd.
In Mark Pope’s first year, he said once he saw Lamont Butler in the portal, he knew he had to get him. The whole staff loaded up and went and signed the former San Diego Aztecs.
And now, another Aztec, who
actually played with Butler for two years, has the attention of Kentucky’s head coach, and it is easy to see why.
Miles Byrd brings defensive intent
If you look at the shooting splits, you may not like what you see. Since playing 4 games in his freshman year, he has went 38%, 38%, 40% from the floor. But like Butler, Byrd is playing in a system that prides itself on defense, and offensive shots can be hard to come by. Unlike Butler, Byrd is 6’7 and plays more of an off guard, think Otega Oweh.
He won the MWC defensive player of the year, averaging 2 blocks a game, 1 steal, and only fouling 1.9 times a game. That kind of defensive output is huge for a team that will need real defensive stoppers.
Regardless of who comes back, none of the guys are great defensive wings, and there is a real role open for someone to come in and guard the other team’s best player.
And what makes me think his offense will come around is that he is an 80% free-throw shooter, which suggests he is mentally tough and has good form. You put that in an offensive system that, at its best, is built on getting clean looks. I think we see a similar bump that Lamont Butler had.
Remember, Butler was a 42% shooter from the floor at San Diego and shot 49% during his lone season in Lexington.
Miles Byrd is definitely a name to watch.
Add us to your “Preferred Sources” on Google to get all the latest Kentucky Wildcats news and views! And Go CATS!!
