Topic: Most "Exciting" Marshall Basketball Player You Have Seen Play

[FLORIDA HERD FAN]

My dad and Leo played together at Lincoln Jr. High.  Leo went on to HHS and my father to HEHS.  They were really good friends.

I have told this story before. In his later years, as his memory was beginning to fail, my dad told me that he coached a kid by the name of Leo Byrd in elementary school. He said that Byrd was a bit "off kilter" because one of his legs was affected by polio, but Byrd was able to use this imbalance to his advantage when making moves that defenders were unable to anticipate. He said that Byrd's shooting was uncanny -- that the kid seemed to never missed a shot.

Then, my dad said, "I wonder what ever happened to that kid".

My dad had totally lost his memory of Byrd's extraordinary Marshall basketball career.

[Thundering In MD]

You guys probably saw this list of the Herd's NBA draft picks in the HD when it was published last week.  I found a couple of intersting things.  The first one is that I owe BGA's an apology; I didn't remember Don Turney being much more than a solid baseline shooter.  The second was that while I don't think I would call him one of the most exciting players, I have very fond memories of Charlie Jones.

Andy Tonkovich 1948 first round, Providence 1st overall

Walt Walowac 1954 third round, Milwaukee 20th overall

Charlie Slack 1956 fourth round, Fort Wayne 31st overall

Cebe Price 1957 eighth round, Syracuse 61st overall

Hal Greer 1958 second round, Syracuse 14th overall

Leo Byrd 1959 fourth round, Cincinnati 25th overall

John Milhoan 1960 13th round, Cincinnati 82nd overall

Bob Burgess 1962 fifth round, New York 38th overall

Bob Redd 1968 11th round, New York 141st overall

Bob Allen 1968 sixth round, San Francisco 71st overall

George Stone 1968 ninth round, L.A. Lakers 115th overall

Blaine Henry 1971 115th round, Milwaukee 182nd overall

Russell Lee 1972 first round, Milwaukee 6th overall

Randy Noll 1972 sixth round, Atlanta 88th overall

Mike D'Antoni 1973 seond round, KC-Omaha 20th overall

Randy Noll 1973 fifth round, Buffalo 72nd overall

Charles Jones 1983 ninth round, New York 196th overall

LaVerne Evans 1984 sixth round, Dallas 130th overall

Don Turney 1985 seventh round, Indiana 157th overall

Tamar Slay 2002 second round, New Jersey 54th overall

Hassan Whiteside 2010 second round, Sacramento 33rd overall

[jt]

I have told this story before. In his later years, as his memory was beginning to fail, my dad told me that he coached a kid by the name of Leo Byrd in elementary school. He said that Byrd was a bit "off kilter" because one of his legs was affected by polio, but Byrd was able to use this imbalance to his advantage when making moves that defenders were unable to anticipate. He said that Byrd's shooting was uncanny -- that the kid seemed to never missed a shot.

Then, my dad said, "I wonder what ever happened to that kid".

My dad had totally lost his memory of Byrd's extraordinary Marshall basketball career.

I saw Leo play that year at Simms School. I did not see the promise (at that time) that he later realized so well. He certainly made himself into a fantastic BB player.
Six years later, I watched Hgtn High lose the state championship to ?? when they put FOUR guys on Leo the entire game. Only one defender was left for the rest of the HHS squad but it was enough. Leo had a great game even with four defenders hanging on him, but it is still a TEAM game and his efforts came up short.  As Bob Hope said:  Thanks for the Memories.

[Thundering In MD]

My dad asked me to ask everyone if anyone remembered a charity all-star game at the Field House that pitted Greer against Hunley.  Dad said that he remembers being there and seeing Greer eat Hunley's lunch.  He said he has never seen anything about the game, and since he was young, he just wanted to see if anyone else remembered.

BTW, my dad is a great Marshall basketball fan who has taught me a lot about the history of Marshall Basketball.

[FLORIDA HERD FAN]

http://bigbluehistory.net/bb/NorthSouth/leo_byrd.html

Player Profile: Leo Byrd
by Jim Thacker (Sports Director, WSAZ, Huntington, W Va.)
 
Leo Byrd



Leo Byrd is probably the greatest high school basketball player ever produced in West Virginia.

That's how fans in the Mountaineer state today are referring to this 6'1" youngster who fought off the ravages of polio to become the highest scoring player in the state's history.

Leo was stricken with infantile paralysis at the age of twelve and staged a courageous recovery to normal health. That same courage was on display this year as Byrd led Huntington High's Pony Express to a 22 and 4 season and the championship game of the state Class "A" tournament. He broke just about every scoring record in the state and received more honors than any other player in the school's history.

As evidence of Byrd's greatness, he received more votes than any other all-state candidate and was named honorary captain of the All-West Virginia team. He was a unanimous choice for the all-state tournament tem following an amazing tournament performance.

His 128 points in the three state tourney games against the best competition around, far surpassed the old record of 93 pionts. Leo's remarkable scoring spree included single game outputs of 48, 49 and 31 points.

Over the entire season, Byrd scored 889 points for an averarge of 34.2 per game - a new state record bettering the old mark of 854 set in 1947-48 by All-American Mark Workman of Charleston. Six times Leo scored over forty points ina a single game and against Bluefield - one of the larger schools - he had 56.

Opponents went to great lengths to devise special defenses against the Express star, but Byrd produced. He's a cool player under pressure, an attribute brough out by the fact that he always reaches his greatest heights against the stiffest opposition.

Despite his prolific scoring, Leo is an excellent "team" man - coach Way calls his brilliant pupil a great leader. Captain in his Senior year, Byrd always turned in a magnificent floor game engineering the Huntington fast break, setting up teammates with his masterful dribbling,an placing high in the rebounding department.

The son of a Methodist minister, Byrd is a very serious minded young man who looks upon basketball as a game to be played winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Those close to this quiet, shy youngster will tell you his real attribute is desire. Byrd has spent endless hours of his spare time perfecting an all-around ability that enables him to discharge any assignment with efficient skill. This is another reason for Byrd's greatness - he plays equally well at guard, forward, or center.

Byrd's ambition is to be a basketball coach and he has all the earmarks of a great one.

Leo Byrd is a credit to the young men of West Virginia - on the basketball court and off.

[Luke80]

Nice to know that I inspired such a long thread.

I have thought about my comments and have concluded that I maybe spoke out of turn and based solely upon my own perspective when I said HW was the most exciting player since the 70's. 

MU basketball was my first love. My first Marshall BB memories were of George Stone, Dan D'Antoni and Bob Allen.  The most exciting period for me was the early 70's with Russell Lee, Mike D. , Randy Noll, et al.  I went to Marshall with Labo, and Greg White. 

But then I moved away to go to law school and seek fame and fortune.  My trips home during the Huck years were infrequent. Some of you young guys might not know this but back in the 80's watching games on the Internet was not a possibility. So there were a lot of guys in the 80's that although I knew about and followed in the papers and rooted for all the time.  I only got to see them play on the rare occassions that I got home to Huntington.

I've told my wife of over 20 years that if Marshall ever makes to the NCAA tournament that I am going, regardless of where it is.  I am still waiting to carry out that threat.

[The Right Stuff]

I hope we all can carry out your threat some day Luke80!

TRS
MU 71

[Thundering In MD]

Nice to know that I inspired such a long thread.

I have thought about my comments and have concluded that I maybe spoke out of turn and based solely upon my own perspective when I said HW was the most exciting player since the 70's. 

MU basketball was my first love. My first Marshall BB memories were of George Stone, Dan D'Antoni and Bob Allen.  The most exciting period for me was the early 70's with Russell Lee, Mike D. , Randy Noll, et al.  I went to Marshall with Labo, and Greg White. 

But then I moved away to go to law school and seek fame and fortune.  My trips home during the Huck years were infrequent. Some of you young guys might not know this but back in the 80's watching games on the Internet was not a possibility. So there were a lot of guys in the 80's that although I knew about and followed in the papers and rooted for all the time.  I only got to see them play on the rare occassions that I got home to Huntington.

I've told my wife of over 20 years that if Marshall ever makes to the NCAA tournament that I am going, regardless of where it is.  I am still waiting to carry out that threat.

+1

[jt]

I spent a lot of time with Leo Byrd. We played together as kids, went to church together, played on adult teams together, and double-dated.
He was one of the finest young men that I knew in those days in the 50s.
It is wonderful when deserving young men have that kind of talent.

[herdinphilly]

Bunny Gibson by a mile........ cuz that's where he shot from