2025 Prospect Spotlight - Miles Byrd

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Impressive 3 & D Wing to consider with the Lakers Pick in the 20s. He causes havoc on defense, generating a solid number of steals and deflections, and he can also hit threes at a solid clip.

Miles Byrd (San Diego State, SG/SF)

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Size: 6'7", 190 lbs
Age: 19
Nationality: USA
Pro Comparisons: Patrick McCaw

Miles Byrd should start drawing more attention with an appealing mix of 6'7" size, shot-making confidence, ball-screen playmaking flashes and defensive instincts. However, teams may hesitate to slot him confidently with first-rounders until they see him against more noteworthy opponents or prospects at the NBA combine.

Bleacher Report

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Trey Murphy III style of player.

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Some enticing player comparisons for the archetype we hope Miles can grow into:

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As much as we love Dyson, Miles Byrd is more of the ideal archetype to play SG next to Trae.

Comparable defense as Dyson Daniels, but miles better as a shooter.

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3-and-D Shooter

Miles Byrd, San Diego State

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Height: 6'7"
Weight: 190 pounds

Miles Byrd’s breakout season at San Diego State has marked him as one of the best potential 3-and-D wings in the class. Byrd has made major strides as a shooter, going from 31.1 percent on 2.2 attempts per game from three last season to 35.8 percent on 6.2 per game this year. His defensive markers are even more encouraging: his 5.2 percent block rate and 4.4 percent steal rate are monster numbers that show his athleticism, motor, and instincts.

The 6’7 wing can continue to show more off the dribble, but he feels like he [will] be an impactful player without sucking up a ton of usage on an NBA floor. While he’s technically in his third year of college basketball. Byrd doesn’t turn 21 years old until Sept. and is already showing he could be a late bloomer.

SB Nation

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Is there any better fit for a guy with the last name “Byrd” landing with the Hawks? Seriously, Miles Byrd is good, and Atlanta needs to add some talent. After trading away a very good shooter in De’Andre Hunter –- plus another player they hoped to be a shooter in Bogdan Bogdanovic –- Byrd gives them someone who averages 35% from deep (on over 12 attempts per 100) and 84% from the line.

More importantly, Miles also provides insane defensive output. The “Byrd-Man” has a Blocks Percentage of 4.7 and a Steals Percentage of 4.0. Byrd allows Atlanta to be very versatile in the 2 through 4 positions. He is listed at 6’7” and has a bit of a handle. The Hawks could be very switchable by putting Miles in lineups featuring Risacher, Daniels, Johnson, etc.

No Ceilings

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Another under-the-radar name is San Diego State wing Miles Byrd, whose defensive exploits this season have impressed a significant number of scouts who have been through Southern California. He has a well-rounded game, as he’s averaging 12.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, two steals and a block per game. Defensively, he’s as active a wing as you’ll find, using his incredible reactivity and timing to disrupt whatever offenses are trying to do. He’s also taking about six 3s per game, and while only 32 percent of those have gone in, he has hit 84 percent from the line. Teams want to see him shoot in person, so he feels more like a player who tests the NBA Draft process as opposed to outright declaring. But as teams hunt for wings who can come in and give them long, active defense, Byrd fits the bill.

The Athletic

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Top 50 prospects to watch in March Madness

31. Miles Byrd, SG, San Diego State

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Height: 6-7 | Sophomore | TS%: 52.6%
First game: No. 11 San Diego State vs. No. 11 North Carolina, Tuesday, 9:10 p.m. (truTV)

Byrd is an analytics darling who caught NBA scouts' eyes in November at the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, where San Diego State posted wins against Creighton and Houston, ultimately paving the way for the Aztecs' tourney inclusion. Byrd has impressive instincts on both ends of the floor; no college player has posted a similar assist/block/steal rate since 2010, with his defensive event percentages comparing favorably with the likes of Tari Eason and Matisse Thybulle.

Byrd's inconsistent perimeter shooting (31% 3P%), rudimentary ballhandling, thin frame and struggles putting on weight are things scouts want to learn more about in the predraft process. He was especially cold late in the season for the Aztecs and has a fascinating matchup with another defensive specialist wing prospect in Drake Powell, who is also vying for first-round consideration. -- Givony

ESPN Insider

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Miles Byrd | 6-6 wing | 21 years old | San Diego State

Byrd is as active a defender as you’ll find in college basketball, a 6-6 wing with incredible hand-eye coordination. He averages 2.2 steals per game and gets several more deflections than that. On offense, Byrd is also a really sharp passer with strong feel for the game and has clear potential as a shooter. The ball seems to come out of his hand well, and he’s a very willing shooter. He attempts nearly six 3s per game; the issue is just that he only makes 31 percent of them. It is worth noting that many of these shots are contested, as San Diego State’s offense isn’t exactly a beautiful picture of drive-and-kick play.

Byrd is also quite skinny right now and will take some real physical development before getting to play NBA minutes consistently. That lower-body strength addition might also help his jumper mechanics become just a bit more consistent. But as a 3-and-D bet, analytically inclined organizations are very interested in Byrd given his high steal rates, willingness to shoot 3s and high free-throw percentage at 83 percent for his career.

The Athletic

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