Over two years ago, Phenom Hoops' intern Chris Sause (now an assistant at Averett University) first came across a long, gangly, explosive 6-foot-5 wing/forward prospect named Treyvon Byrd at our Grassroots TOC. He played with NC Ice 15U, which was coached by Ryan Bernardi and included other noteworthy names like Ryan Roberts, Shane Peterson, Isaiah Escobar, etc. Not even a full month later, Byrd goes viral for a posterizing dunk at Smith High School'where he literally almost cleared the opponent. Ever since then, it's seems like there have been more questions than answers about the obvious next-level talent.
Those questions aren't reflective of Byrd as a person or player, but rather why his recruitment hasn't yet taken off. With the modern mold of wing prospects, one has to scratch their head and wonder what is preventing coaches from extending scholarship offers (kudos to EKU and UMass for being the first programs to get involved). The abilities are clearly present, as Byrd can reliably pass, handle, score, rebound, and defend multiple positions'and those skills are applicable to any potential role. That being said, it's worth noting just how much polish he's added over the years. Not only has he grown two inches, but his shooting and overall feel for the game have definitely trended in a positive direction. Despite so much talent at Bull City Prep, Byrd has found himself as one of the most consistent producers on the entire roster.
Things already seem to be shaping up for other regions to pursue Byrd more aggressively than those within our area, which doesn't make much sense. While he might not hold any offers from throughout the Carolinas, he's certainly talented enough to succeed at a majority of those schools. For those who have monitored Byrd over the last two years, these statements are nothing new. However, he still has a full calendar year to collect offers prior to even entering his senior season'which could easily result in another ten to fifteen schools getting involved.