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Byrd leading Copiague to great heights; Senior forward reaches milestone
That shot, which Rebholz says is beautiful, has made Byrd the fourth highest scorer on Long Island, averaging 24.3 points per game and his knack for drawing doubleteams helps his team open the floor and spread out the offense. "It's a work of art the way he shoots the ball," Rebholz said. Most of Copiague's (11- 0 Suffolk League III) wins have large scoring margins, but come playoff time, Byrd's playing style during crunch time will be important. His teammates look for him to score and that's exactly what he does. He's recorded more than 10 points and 10 rebounds in seven games this season and is averaging eight rebounds and four steals per game.
Rebholz said Byrd is looking to stay local, probably a Division II school like Dowling, C.W. Post or Adelphi, who have all shown interest, although neither is ruling out prep-school. "Jersey is the farthest I'll go," Byrd said. "I want to stay close to home where my family is." "It's a very big goal of his to play college ball. Once I see him graduating I'll be happy, but when I see him in a college uniform I'll feel even more proud," Rebholz said. Both of his older brothers did not graduate high school, and his middle brother Raymond was shot to death in October 2002 at 17-years old. "That was a big problem in his life," said Todd Rauch, Byrd's middle school football and basketball coach. "He looked up to his brother. He later got a tattoo with his brother's name on it." "He's had some trials and tribulations, yet goes through life with a smile and it's contagious," said Rebholz, who has know Byrd since elementary school. "It all makes me work a little bit harder," Byrd said. When Raymond died, Rauch told Richard about the tragedy after football practice and was there for him when he needed emotional support. "He was there for me all the time," Byrd said. "I would always go and talk to him." He's modest, yet knows he's usually the best player on the court. "Ever since I was small I wanted to play basketball and I like being better than everybody," he said. He was on his way to being better than most in football and baseball too, but stopped after his sophomore year to focus on his hoops game, which was being put to the test at nearly every practice during his freshman and sophomore years. Playing with former All-Long Island players Sean Smith, James St. Robert and LeMichael Allen, Byrd saw first hand what it was like to be a primetime player and has developed into one himself. He was on varsity as a freshman, but Rebholz kept him grounded, only beginning to start regularly during his junior year. "It was invaluable," Rebholz said of having him learn about the varsity program as early as ninth grade. "He was learning our system as opposed to having his will on jayvee." Now, he is having his will on his opponents at the varsity level, and the sun is setting on a brilliant high school career. When asked about what type of defense is needed to contain Byrd, Rebholz said something that echoes the budding stars entire life: "He always looks at the positives and is determined. I don't know if anything can stop Richard." Copiague won its first Suffolk Class AA title in the school's 48-year history and Byrd has hopes of winning the school's first Long Island title this year.
The date and time of the Eagles' first playoff game this year will be decided next week.
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