'10 IN SG Russell Byrd (Michigan State Verbal)

[Cavfan89]

Fort Wayne (IN) Blackhawk Christian

Ht: 6-foot-7
Wt: 190 lbs
AAU: Blessed IJN

Ranked #84 by Rivals.

Rivals(free)

Louisville, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa, Baylor and Notre Dame have offered, Ohio State, Tennesse, and Pittsburgh have also shown interested.

[crazybuckfan40]

He seems like the perfect fit for Matta's system, but right now we have a full slew of offers out...

[purduerowdie]

he had named iowa his leader less than a month back.

[wadc45]

Rivals Profile
Scout Profile



Fort Wayne (IN) Blackhawk Christian
AAU: Blessed IJN

Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 190 lbs

Rated the #12 SG in '10 by Scout.
Rated the #24 SG in '10 by Rivals.
Rated the #84 player in the country in '10 by Rivals.

Rivals $

7/29

The OSU staff was watching Byrd down in Orlando.

[Cavfan89]

I already made a thread in the 2010 recruiting forum.

[wadc45]

I searched by both Russell and Byrd and got nothing...

EDIT: Found it under "Rusell Bryd".

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Rivals.com$ (Michigan site)

Michigan has offered. Byrd holds offers from Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa and Kentucky. Claims no leader.

[wadc45]

Scout $

8/6

From GoSpartan.net...down to Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Kentucky and Ohio State with no leader.

[crazybuckfan40]

Just got word that there was an offer sent out...

Not sure what to make of it, maybe a first come first serve type thing with he an Sibert, or maybe the staff doesn't feel to confident about Sibert...Either way like I mentioned earlier in the thread, Byrd fits the bill of a wing in Matta's system, but I don't want to lose Sibert either...

Here is a link to confirm...

Scout

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Rivals.com$ (Kentucky site)

Byrd and his family visited Kentucky this past week and says the visit puts Kentucky near the top of his list but he does not have a leader. Byrd has narrowed his list to UK, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Indiana. Distance from home and coaching are the two important factors in his decision.

[Buckskin86]

Published: August 26, 2008
Braves basketball star weighs options
Greg Jones
High school sports editor

Could Blackhawk Christian?s Russell Byrd and Bishop Luers? Deshaun Thomas, two of the nation?s best juniors, be collegiate basketball teammates?

It?s a real possibility.

Thomas, ranked No. 7 in the Class of 2010 by Rivals.com, has orally committed to Ohio State, and Byrd, ranked 22nd nationally, has narrowed his college choices down to five, including Ohio State.

Also on Byrd?s list are: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan State and Michigan.

?(Byrd) has gotten to know Deshaun a little bit over this past year,? Russell?s dad, Kelly, said. ?He thinks a lot of him. (Ohio State) has talked with Russell, and they have been real clear and open with him that they would love to have him and Deshaun together.

?Russell feels like that would be OK. Initially maybe growing up basketball-wise in Fort Wayne these last few years obviously in Deshaun?s shadow, I think maybe early on he thought about what it would be like if it ever transpired. But recently as far as he has come along with his game and the opportunities he is going to have and the way the next couple of years could play out, the whole shadow thing has gone away. He?s worked very hard and made a name for himself and a reputation.?

Kelly Byrd said the Buckeyes envision Russell playing on the wing and using the 6-foot-7 Thomas as a 3 or 4 position with more responsibilities inside.

?They don?t see them at all as the same type of player,? Kelly said.

There is no guarantee Byrd will choose the Buckeyes, who already have an oral commitment from Jared Sullinger, ranked third in the 2010 Class.

Byrd still has trips to Michigan State and Indiana in the works, as well as watching Kentucky?s Midnight Madness in a couple of months.

Braves basketball star weighs options | The Journal Gazette

[LitlBuck]

Ohio State seems to be in on a lot of wing players and they already have a commitment from Wright. I would think that if Byrd wants to play with Thomas he better not wait too long before pulling the trigger.

[buckeydoptimist]

I also find it interesting that with Wright ( 2/3 ) and Thomas ( 3/4 ) committed already that the two new names that surfaced out of the July period were both wings ( Byrd and Smith ) who both seem to be most likely 2Gs in college - as does Sibert who already had an offer.

I might have expected that another frontcourt prospect may have come up ( since Hairston seems waning and Payne is such an enigma ) or perhaps a PG ( since AJ is not a pure PG and that position is rather thin ).

We will have just lost 2 PGs in Simmons and Hill. Leaving Crater and perhaps Offutt ( depending on what position he settles in to by then ). So PG would seem to be the biggest current need for that class - unless you'd want to get by with Crater and Offutt for that season and wait on Teague in the 11 class to plug the hole. By then, Crater should be a stalwart and Offutt may have developed into a viable combo that can help as backup PG. So it may not be a dire need but I sure hope AJ pulls the trigger anyway!

With Dallas and Kecman being SRs, and Sullinger a likely short-timer ( NBA will be calling ASAP by most accounts ), then you'd think another insider would be the next priority. But it looks like Payne or bust right now! I guess Markus Kennedy might still be a possibility - I don't know that he is popping up in anyone's T100 list but the idea that he may grow to 7'2 is intriguing!

I'd think that another 2 or wing would not be a huge priority, yet that is where 2 new names surfaced. All 3 sound intriguing but I am surprised that PG and 5/4 did not get more attention/names surface. I guess the staff feels that both Turner and Buford will be gone by then and wants another guy ( besides Diebs, Thomas ,Wright, Offutt ) on the bench developing. I am kind of hoping Buford will still be here and that it won't be necessary.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Rivals.com$ (Michigan State)

Byrd took an unofficial visit to Michigan State recently and feels like he is a fit in their system. Michigan State, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio State are his final schools. Byrd hopes to make a decision prior to his junior year.

[osugrad21]

Rivals $

Russell will visit tOSU at the end of September before seeing Michigan and Kentucky in October.