Leo Byrd
Encyclopedia
Leo Byrd was an NCAA All-American
basketball player for Marshall College
whose career spanned from 1956–57 to 1958–59. He also won a gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games
for Team USA after the squad finished with a 6–0 record. It was the first Pan American Games to be played in the United States as well.
and was the son of a Methodist minister. At age 12, he was stricken with infantile paralysis
(polio), but he eventually recovered to a full, normal life. Byrd attended Huntington High School
and became a prolific scorer. During his senior year of 1954–55, he averaged a state-record 34.2 points per game
(ppg) for a season total of 889 points. He led the school to a 22–4 record en route to the Class A state championship game and shattered the three-game tournament's previous scoring record of 93 points – Byrd scored 128 points with games of 48, 49 and 31 points, respectively. Over that season he scored 40 or more points six times, including a career-high 56 against Bluefield
, one of the larger schools. Despite his scoring ability, his high school coach lauded his "team" concept of basketball.
(now called Marshall University) in 1955. Due to NCAA rules that freshmen were not allowed to play on varsity sports, he was forced to participate on the school's freshmen men's basketball team for the 1955–56 season. A guard, Byrd had to wait until the following season to play for the varsity team.
As a sophomore
in 1956–57, he played in all 24 games and averaged 16.4 ppg. The next season, Byrd once again played in 24 games but this time his scoring jumped up to 24.9 ppg. He led the Mid-American Conference
(MAC) in scoring for the first time and compiled 599 points on the year. Playing in the era before the three-point shot
, Byrd made 214 field goals
and 171 free throw
s. He also holds the distinction as being the first player from Marshall to lead the MAC in scoring.
In 1958–59, Byrd's senior season, he led the MAC in scoring for a second consecutive time; his 29.3 ppg average en route to 704 total points were tops in the league. Once again, Byrd played in 24 games for a third straight season, bringing his career totals to 72 games played and 1,705 points scored. At the end of the season, Byrd was named a consensus Second Team All-American
.
by the Cincinnati Royals. He never ended up playing professionally, however.
Instead, Byrd was named as one of 14 players to represent the United States at the 1959 Pan American Games
. This team also contained future Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson
and Jerry West
. The 1959 Pan American Games—only the third PanAm Games ever—were played in Chicago
, Illinois
. The United States had won the gold medal at both previous Games, and Byrd was on the squad that won its third gold after finishing the tournament 6–0. Byrd played in four of the six contests and scored 10 points (2.5 ppg). He shot 4-for-9 from the field and 2-for-4 from the free throw line.
Byrd's competitive playing career effectively ended after his stint with Team USA.
NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The NCAA Men's Basketball All-American teams are honorary teams made up of those NCAA basketball players voted the best in the country by a variety of organizations.-History:...
basketball player for Marshall College
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
whose career spanned from 1956–57 to 1958–59. He also won a gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games
1959 Pan American Games
The 3rd Pan American Games opened on August 27, 1959 in sunny 90°F heat before 40,000 people in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The first Pan American Games held in North America, they were originally scheduled for Cleveland, Ohio, but the U.S. Congress’s decision to cut $5,000,000 in federal...
for Team USA after the squad finished with a 6–0 record. It was the first Pan American Games to be played in the United States as well.
Early life
Byrd was born and raised in Huntington, West VirginiaHuntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
and was the son of a Methodist minister. At age 12, he was stricken with infantile paralysis
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...
(polio), but he eventually recovered to a full, normal life. Byrd attended Huntington High School
Huntington High School (West Virginia)
Huntington High School is a four year high school located on top of a hill just outside of Huntington, West Virginia. It was established in 1996 through the consolidation of the old Huntington and Huntington East High Schools. The school has a student body of approximately 1600 students. Huntington...
and became a prolific scorer. During his senior year of 1954–55, he averaged a state-record 34.2 points per game
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
(ppg) for a season total of 889 points. He led the school to a 22–4 record en route to the Class A state championship game and shattered the three-game tournament's previous scoring record of 93 points – Byrd scored 128 points with games of 48, 49 and 31 points, respectively. Over that season he scored 40 or more points six times, including a career-high 56 against Bluefield
Bluefield High School
Bluefied High School is a public secondary school in Bluefield, West Virginia, United States. It is part of Mercer County Public Schools and is located on 535 West Cumberland Road...
, one of the larger schools. Despite his scoring ability, his high school coach lauded his "team" concept of basketball.
College
Byrd enrolled at Marshall CollegeMarshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
(now called Marshall University) in 1955. Due to NCAA rules that freshmen were not allowed to play on varsity sports, he was forced to participate on the school's freshmen men's basketball team for the 1955–56 season. A guard, Byrd had to wait until the following season to play for the varsity team.
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 1956–57, he played in all 24 games and averaged 16.4 ppg. The next season, Byrd once again played in 24 games but this time his scoring jumped up to 24.9 ppg. He led the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
(MAC) in scoring for the first time and compiled 599 points on the year. Playing in the era before the three-point shot
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
, Byrd made 214 field goals
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...
and 171 free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
s. He also holds the distinction as being the first player from Marshall to lead the MAC in scoring.
In 1958–59, Byrd's senior season, he led the MAC in scoring for a second consecutive time; his 29.3 ppg average en route to 704 total points were tops in the league. Once again, Byrd played in 24 games for a third straight season, bringing his career totals to 72 games played and 1,705 points scored. At the end of the season, Byrd was named a consensus Second Team All-American
1959 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1959 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of five major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The United Press International, the...
.
Post college career
Leo Byrd was selected as the 25th overall pick in the 1959 NBA Draft1959 NBA Draft
The 1959 NBA Draft was the 13th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 31, 1959 before the 1959–60 season. In this draft, eight NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. In each round, the teams select in reverse order of...
by the Cincinnati Royals. He never ended up playing professionally, however.
Instead, Byrd was named as one of 14 players to represent the United States at the 1959 Pan American Games
1959 Pan American Games
The 3rd Pan American Games opened on August 27, 1959 in sunny 90°F heat before 40,000 people in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The first Pan American Games held in North America, they were originally scheduled for Cleveland, Ohio, but the U.S. Congress’s decision to cut $5,000,000 in federal...
. This team also contained future Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson
Oscar Robertson
Oscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...
and Jerry West
Jerry West
Jerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...
. The 1959 Pan American Games—only the third PanAm Games ever—were played in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The United States had won the gold medal at both previous Games, and Byrd was on the squad that won its third gold after finishing the tournament 6–0. Byrd played in four of the six contests and scored 10 points (2.5 ppg). He shot 4-for-9 from the field and 2-for-4 from the free throw line.
Byrd's competitive playing career effectively ended after his stint with Team USA.