Hall of Fame
J.D. Byers `05 – Men's Basketball/Golf
One of just five men's basketball players to have his jersey retired, J.D. Byers `05 personified the true definition of a student-athlete, combining his astounding talent on the court and links with tremendous academic success. As a senior, he was named an NABC First-Team All-American and led the Dutchmen to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Byers was pegged an academic all-American three times including twice in one year as a golfer and sharpshooting point guard during his junior campaign. In 2005, he won the Josten's Trophy, awarded to college basketball's top student-athlete, and was named the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-American of the Year. He holds the program record with 301 three-point field goals made and his 1,898 points scored ranks fifth all-time among Dutchmen. In 2013, the two-time Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year was named to the MAC's All-Century Men's Basketball Team. Byers remained active in the game with a nearly decade of NCAA coaching experience under his belt, including a stint as a Dutchmen assistant. He currently mans the sidelines at Rice University as an assistant for the Owls' men's team under fellow LVC Hall of Famer Mike Rhoades `95.
