Derrick Byars Explained

Derrick Byars
Height Ft:6
Height In:7
Weight Lb:220
Nationality:American
Birth Date:25 April 1984
Birth Place:Memphis, Tennessee
Highschool:Ridgeway (Memphis, Tennessee)
College:
Draft Year:2007
Draft Round:2
Draft Pick:42
Draft Team:Portland Trail Blazers
Career Start:2007
Career End:2018
Career Number:34
Career Position:Small forward / shooting guard
Years1:2007–2008
Team1:Köln 99ers
Years2:2008
Team2:Chorale Roanne
Years3:2008–2009
Team3:Bakersfield Jam
Years4:2009–2010
Team4:Alba Berlin
Team5:Chicago Bulls
Years6:2010
Team6:Panellinios Basket
Years7:2011
Team7:Bakersfield Jam
Years8:2011
Team8:Guaiqueríes de Margarita
Years9:2011
Team9:Cholet Basket
Years10:2012
Team10:Bakersfield Jam
Team11:San Antonio Spurs
Years12:2012–2013
Team12:Alba Berlin
Years13:2013
Team13:Caciques de Humacao
Years14:2014
Team14:Krasny Oktyabr
Years15:2014
Team15:Bakersfield Jam
Years16:2014
Team16:Belfius Mons-Hainaut
Years17:2014–2015
Team17:CB Sevilla
Years18:2015
Team18:Maccabi Rishon LeZion
Years19:2016
Team19:Santeros de Aguada
Years20:2016–2017
Team20:JA Vichy
Years21:2017
Team21:Delaware 87ers
Highlights:

Derrick JaVaughn Byars (born April 25, 1984) is an American entrepreneur and former professional basketball player. Collegiately, he played for Virginia, and later for Vanderbilt. He was drafted 42nd overall in the 2007 NBA draft.

High school career

Byars attended Ridgeway High School in Memphis, where he played for head coach Wesley Henning and won two Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Class AA State Championships.

As a sophomore (1999–2000), Byars was an honorable-mention All-State selection and led the Roadrunners to the Class AA State Championship. He averaged 16.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.

As a junior, he again earned honorable mention All-State honors and was named Ridgeway's Most Valuable Player and District 15-AA MVP. He averaged 20.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5 assists.

As a senior (2001–02), he averaged 23.2 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 assists and led Ridgeway to its second TSSAA Class AA State Championship in three years. He was a fourth-team Parade All-America selection, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Tennessee, the TSSAA Class AA Tournament Most Valuable Player and first-team All-State.[1]

Byars also excelled in the classroom, finishing high school with a 3.9 GPA.[2]

Collegiate career

Virginia

Byars played for two seasons under then-head coach Pete Gillen at Virginia. He started 16 of Virginia's 31 games his freshman season (2002–03) and averaged 6.5 points per game. In his sophomore season (2003–04), he started 18 of Virginia's 31 games and averaged 7.5 points per game.[3]

Disappointed by his lack of playing time, Byars decided to transfer from Virginia.[4] Vanderbilt emerged as a leading candidate due to Byars' friendships with players on the team and the Commodores' recent run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament,[5] but the Commodores had no scholarship positions available. Days before Byars was due to announce his transfer to Mississippi, Vanderbilt reserve guard Adam Payton decided to transfer to William & Mary, freeing up a scholarship for Byars.[6]

He sat out the 2004–05 season as mandated by NCAA rules.

Vanderbilt

In his junior season (2005–06), Byars started all 30 games and finished second on the team in scoring at 12.4 points per game. He started a handful of games at the point guard position and led the team with 3.2 assists per game. He was named SEC Player of the Week (November 28 – December 4) after scoring 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting against Oregon on November 30, 2005. A week later, he scored a season-high 25 points (including five 3-pointers) against Cincinnati on December 10, 2005.[7]

In his senior season (2006–07), Byars was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year by the league's coaches, who also unanimously selected him to their All-SEC first team. He led Vanderbilt to a 22–12 record (SEC East: 10–6, 2nd) and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, because Jeff Green's travel was not called, ending the season at least one game early. He led the Commodores in scoring with 17.0 points per game and was ranked among the SEC's top 10 in four other statistical categories. During SEC play, Byars averaged 19.1 points per game, second-best in the SEC. He scored 20 points or more eight different times, including a career-high 32 points against South Carolina on February 14, 2007. He followed that performance with 24 points in Vanderbilt's 83–70 victory over then-No. 1 Florida, which earned him SEC player of the week honors for the second time that season.[8]

Byars graduated from Vanderbilt on May 11, 2007, with a degree in sociology.

Professional career

NBA

Byars was chosen 42nd overall in the 2007 NBA draft in the second round by the Portland Trail Blazers. His rights were then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.[9] He was waived by the 76ers on October 22, 2007. He was on the New Orleans Hornets and Orlando Magic rosters for the 2008 Summer League. Byars return to the NBA Summer League was successful, as he led the Magic in scoring in their first game against the New Jersey Nets with 15 points on 6 of 13 shooting https://web.archive.org/web/20081013145936/http://www.nba.com/media/magic/Game_3_Box_Score.pdf.

In late September, Byars was signed by the Oklahoma City Thunder where he averaged 4.1 points and 14.8 minutes per game in the preseason.[10]

Byars was invited to the Chicago Bulls' training camp in 2009 but was waived on the opening day of the season, October 28, 2009.[11]

He played for the Bulls in the NBA Summer League in 2010.[12]

Germany

In December 2007, Byars played in eight games for the Köln 99ers, a Basketball Bundesliga team based in Cologne, Germany, having arrived at the end of October with a foot injury that had to be cured first. He averaged 6.3 points and 18 minutes per game in four games in the ULEB Cup[13] and 3.5 points in another 4 games in the Bundesliga. He was cut from the team again on December 21, 2007.[14]

On November 2, 2009, Byars was introduced as the new small forward for ALBA Berlin.

France

On January 24, 2008, he was subsequently signed by Chorale Roanne Basket of the Ligue Nationale de Basketball (LNB) in France.[15] [16]

His club finished fourth in the 2007/08 regular season, and lost in the 2008 LNB final against Nancy after beating regular season winner Le Mans in the semi-final. Byars averaged 8 points and 3 rebounds in 24 minutes of playing time.[17]

NBA Development League

Derrick Byars was drafted in the 2008 NBA Developmental League Draft with the 5th overall pick by the Bakersfield Jam. While averaging 18 points per game on the season, he was named to the 2009 NBA D-League All-Star Game and led all players in scoring with 18 points. He returned to the team briefly in 2011, claiming another NBA Developmental League Player of the Week award after scoring a career-high 45 points versus Springfield Armor.

Greece

In September 2010, he signed a one-year deal with the Greek club Panellinios Basket.[18]

Return to France

In August 2011 he signed a one-year contract with Cholet Basket in France.[19] However, he left the club in November, having played only two games, one in Pro A and one in the Euroleague qualifying round.[20]

Return to the NBA

On December 10, 2011, Byars signed with the Miami Heat.[21] He was however waived before the start of the season. He was then signed by the San Antonio Spurs on April 25, 2012.[22] On August 21, 2012, he was waived by the Spurs after scoring ten points in two games.[23]

Return to Germany

In November 2012, Byars re-signed with Alba Berlin.[24]

Memphis Grizzlies

In September 2013, Byars joined the Memphis Grizzlies.[25] He was waived by the team on October 6, 2013.[26]

Russia / D-League

In January 2014, Byars signed with BC Krasny Oktyabr of Russia for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[27] He left before playing in a game for them.

On March 4, 2014, he was re-acquired by the Bakersfield Jam.

Belgium

On April 12, 2014, Byars signed with Belfius Mons-Hainaut of the Basketball League Belgium for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[28]

Israel

On September 15, 2015, Byars signed with Maccabi Rishon LeZion from the Israel Super League.[29] [30]

Puerto Rico

On January 6, 2016, Byars signed with Santeros de Aguada of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.[31]

France

On August 20, 2016, Byars signed with JA Vichy of the LNB Pro B.[32] In 16 games, he averaged 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal.[33]

D-League

On February 27, 2017, he was acquired by the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League.[33]

Awards and accomplishments

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Derrick Byars Profile (Virginia). CSTV.com. March 8, 2007.
  2. News: Derrick Byars Inside Out . https://archive.today/20120721233225/http://www.cavalierdaily.com/news/2002/nov/12/derrick-byars/ . dead . July 21, 2012 . . November 12, 2002 . Moss . J.D. . March 8, 2007 .
  3. Web site: Derrick Byars Profile (Vanderbilt). CSTV.com. March 8, 2007.
  4. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1836602 Byars comes from UVa as transfer - Men's College Basketball - ESPN
  5. Web site: Archived copy . April 5, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130408014342/http://www.vandypride.com/2008/06/02/catching-up-with-derrick-byars/ . April 8, 2013 .
  6. News: Commodores' Success Is Built on Two Players Who Never Met. The New York Times. March 19, 2007 . Lee . Jenkins . March 19, 2007.
  7. Web site: Derrick Byars Profile 2006–07. CSTV.com. March 8, 2007.
  8. Web site: Coaches say Byars SEC's best. Tennessean.com . March 8, 2007.
  9. Web site: Byars may go late in first round. Tennessean.com. May 14, 2007.
  10. Web site: Thunder Notebook. September 30, 2008. Tulsa World . September 30, 2008.
  11. Web site: Bulls' starting 5? . October 28, 2008 . Chicago Breaking Sports News . October 28, 2008 .
  12. http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2010/6/28/1540775/nba-summer-league-rosters-vegas NBA Summer League Rosters - Vegas
  13. Web site: Derrick Byars – Köln 99ers Game Log. Euroleague.net. January 22, 2008.
  14. Web site: Köln 99ers trennen sich von Derrick Byars (Köln 99ers are separating from Derrick Byars) . de . Köln 99ers Official Homepage . March 6, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071231125543/http://www.koeln99ers.de/99ers/index3.php?cat=news&storyID=466 . December 31, 2007 . dead .
  15. Web site: Chorale Roanne Basket Current Roster. Eurobasket.com. March 6, 2008.
  16. Web site: Derrick Byars est choralien (Derrick Byars is a Choralien). fr. Chorale Roanne Official Homepage. March 6, 2008.
  17. http://www.lnb.fr/index.php?pid=9&id=A41010&from=2007&type=1 Ligue Nationale de Basket
  18. http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/ulebcup/home/on-court/transactions/eurocup-2010-11/i/75588/4674/panellinios-signs-derrick-byars PANELLINIOS signs Derrick Byars.
  19. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/86995/180/cholet-basket-signs-byars Cholet Basket signs Byars
  20. Web site: Derrick Byars quitte Cholet . cholet-basket.com . November 12, 2011 . fr . November 12, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160119142457/http://www.cholet-basket.com/news/actualites/derrick-byars-quitte-cholet-basket-n5104.htm . January 19, 2016 . dead .
  21. http://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat_signs_derrick_byars_111210.html HEAT Signs Derrick Byars
  22. http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/120425_sign_derrick_byars Spurs Sign Derrick Byars
  23. http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/120821_spurs_waive_derrick_byars Spurs Waive Derrick Byars
  24. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/103736/180/alba-berlin-brings-back-byars Alba Berlin brings back Byars
  25. http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2013/09/grizzlies-sign-byars-ely-gaffney.html Grizzlies Sign Byars, Ely, Gaffney
  26. Web site: Memphis Grizzlies waive Josh Akognon and Derrick Byars . October 7, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150610205327/http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=14444 . June 10, 2015 . dead .
  27. http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/russia/110443/derrick-byars-to-sign-deal-with-krasny-oktyabr.html Derrick Byars To Sign Deal With Krasny Oktyabr
  28. Web site: Derrick Byars signs with Mons . April 30, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140502013302/http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/belgium/116929/derrick-byars-signs-with-mons.html . May 2, 2014 . dead . mdy-all .
  29. http://www.maccabirishon.co.il/%D7%91%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%92/873/ The roster is complete
  30. http://basket.co.il/News.asp?id=6096 Derrick Byars signed with Rishon LeZion
  31. http://www.bsnpr.com/noticias/detalles.asp?r=9925 Aguada firma a Derrick Byars
  32. Web site: Derrick BYARS évoluera avec la J.A.VCM. vcm-basket.com. August 20, 2016. February 28, 2017.
  33. Web site: SEVENS ACQUIRE DERRICK BYARS. NBA.com. February 27, 2017. February 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170228003043/http://delaware.dleague.nba.com/news/sevens-acquire-derrick-byars/. February 28, 2017. dead.