Byron Larkin
Encyclopedia
Byron K. Larkin is a retired American basketball
player who had spent six seasons playing professionally abroad, although he is best known for his collegiate career at Xavier University between 1984–85 and 1987–88. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio
, Larkin starred at Moeller High School
in both football
and basketball. Even though he was an All-America
n in football, Larkin chose to play basketball in college for his hometown's Xavier Musketeers
.
, he scored 13 points in only 19 minutes off the bench to lead his team to a three-point win over Pittsburgh
. By his seventh game, his head coach (Bob Staak
) began to use him as a starter, which was the first of a since-broken school record 115 consecutive starts. Over the span of Larkin's four-year career, Xavier won three Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament
championships (which he was the MVP of each time), two MCC regular season titles, three NCAA Tournament
appearances, and Xavier's first-ever NCAA Tournament win in 1988. No other player in MCC (now called the Horizon League
) history has been named the Tournament MVP three times.
Larkin graduated in 1988 as the most decorated player in Xavier University history. His 2,696 points are the school record and still rank in the top 25 all-time in NCAA Division I career scoring. He was twice named the MCC Player of the Year
, first as a sophomore
in 1986 and then as a senior
in 1988, and he was the first Xavier player to be named to a postseason All-America team. Larkin was also a three-time First Team All-Conference performer and led the Musketeers in scoring for all four years. Different major national media sources such as Sports Illustrated
, The Sporting News
, Basketball Weekly and Basketball Times
all featured him at various times, and later he became the first player in school history to have his jersey number (#23) formally retired. Larkin was later inducted into Xavier University's Athletics Hall of Fame.
After his junior season in 1986–87, Larkin was named as the first alternate for both guard positions for Team USA's squad that competed in the 1987 Pan American Games
, which were held in Indianapolis
, Indiana
.
(NBA) team. He worked out for the Cleveland Cavaliers
, Milwaukee Bucks
and New Jersey Nets
, but due to his size — — teams did not show enough interest and he was passed up. Larkin spent the next five years playing professionally in Venezuela
, where in two of them he led his league in scoring. He then split his sixth and final professional season between teams in Germany
and Hong Kong
. Discussing his expatriate basketball experience, Larkin said, "I loved playing abroad. I would have preferred to play in the NBA, obviously, but I guess the knock on me was I was a little small for my position as a 6-foot-3 two guard
. I was told I needed to change and play point guard to make it in the league, and I'm not a point. I'm a two guard. I was OK being a point guard, but I really stood out being a two guard...I didn't put my best foot forward trying to make it in the NBA. But playing overseas, I led Venezuela in scoring two of the five years I was there and won a lot of games. Even the owner of my team came back for my wedding (in Cincinnati) and wanted me to be a naturalized citizen, but five years was enough for me."
Today, Larkin serves as the color commentator
for the Xavier men's basketball team's radio broadcasts. He is a financial adviser by day, a job which he has been doing since 1992.
, who played the shortstop
position for the Cincinnati Reds
.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who had spent six seasons playing professionally abroad, although he is best known for his collegiate career at Xavier University between 1984–85 and 1987–88. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Larkin starred at Moeller High School
Moeller High School
Archbishop Moeller High School , known as Moeller, is a private, all-male, college-preparatory high school in the suburbs of Cincinnati, in Hamilton County, Ohio...
in both football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and basketball. Even though he was an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n in football, Larkin chose to play basketball in college for his hometown's Xavier Musketeers
Xavier Musketeers men's basketball
The Xavier Musketeers team is the basketball team that represents Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school's team currently competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference...
.
College
In just his second collegiate game as a freshmanFreshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
, he scored 13 points in only 19 minutes off the bench to lead his team to a three-point win over Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball
Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games in...
. By his seventh game, his head coach (Bob Staak
Bob Staak
Bob Staak was a star at the University of Connecticut from 1968 through 1971.He had also served as the head coach at Xavier and at Wake Forest.He served one game for the Washington Bullets as an interim head coach in 1997, a loss....
) began to use him as a starter, which was the first of a since-broken school record 115 consecutive starts. Over the span of Larkin's four-year career, Xavier won three Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament
Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament
The Horizon League men's basketball tournament is held annually at the end of the men's college basketball regular season. The tournament has been played each year since 1980. The winner of the tournament is designated the Horizon League Tournament Champion and receives the conference's automatic...
championships (which he was the MVP of each time), two MCC regular season titles, three NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearances, and Xavier's first-ever NCAA Tournament win in 1988. No other player in MCC (now called the Horizon League
Horizon League
The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States....
) history has been named the Tournament MVP three times.
Larkin graduated in 1988 as the most decorated player in Xavier University history. His 2,696 points are the school record and still rank in the top 25 all-time in NCAA Division I career scoring. He was twice named the MCC Player of the Year
Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Horizon League's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1979–80 season—the first year of the conference's existence. Four players have won the award multiple times: Byron Larkin,...
, first as a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
in 1986 and then as a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 1988, and he was the first Xavier player to be named to a postseason All-America team. Larkin was also a three-time First Team All-Conference performer and led the Musketeers in scoring for all four years. Different major national media sources such as Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, Basketball Weekly and Basketball Times
Basketball Times
Basketball Times is an American basketball magazine that has been in circulation since 1978, and is published by The Hoop Group LLC. Basketball Times publishes monthly and mainly focuses on college basketball and basketball recruiting.- History :...
all featured him at various times, and later he became the first player in school history to have his jersey number (#23) formally retired. Larkin was later inducted into Xavier University's Athletics Hall of Fame.
After his junior season in 1986–87, Larkin was named as the first alternate for both guard positions for Team USA's squad that competed in the 1987 Pan American Games
Basketball at the 1987 Pan American Games
The Men's Basketball Tournament at the 1987 Pan American Games was held from August 9 to August 23, 1987 at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, United States.-Participating nations:-Final ranking:-References:**...
, which were held in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Professional career and later life
Despite a lauded career at Xavier University, Larkin was never drafted by any National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) team. He worked out for the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
, Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
and New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, but due to his size — — teams did not show enough interest and he was passed up. Larkin spent the next five years playing professionally in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, where in two of them he led his league in scoring. He then split his sixth and final professional season between teams in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Discussing his expatriate basketball experience, Larkin said, "I loved playing abroad. I would have preferred to play in the NBA, obviously, but I guess the knock on me was I was a little small for my position as a 6-foot-3 two guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
. I was told I needed to change and play point guard to make it in the league, and I'm not a point. I'm a two guard. I was OK being a point guard, but I really stood out being a two guard...I didn't put my best foot forward trying to make it in the NBA. But playing overseas, I led Venezuela in scoring two of the five years I was there and won a lot of games. Even the owner of my team came back for my wedding (in Cincinnati) and wanted me to be a naturalized citizen, but five years was enough for me."
Today, Larkin serves as the color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the Xavier men's basketball team's radio broadcasts. He is a financial adviser by day, a job which he has been doing since 1992.
Personal
Byron Larkin is the younger brother of former professional baseball player Barry LarkinBarry Larkin
Barry Louis Larkin is a retired Major League Baseball player. Larkin played shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds from 1986 to 2004 and was one of the pivotal players on the 1990 Reds' World Series championship team...
, who played the shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
position for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.