Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 11, 2001
NEW PORT RICHEY -- Taking nothing away from last year when Jason Byrd led his team in rebounding, the Pasco-Hernando Community College forward is anything but one-dimensional.
Just ask him -- or his coach, for that matter.
"I was like a role player,," Byrd said of his freshman season when he led the Conquistadors with a 7.5 rebounding average. "This year I have to be more of a scorer."
Through 14 games, Byrd ranks second in team rebounding (8.4 average) behind center Chris Thompson (9.7). The former Hernando star also is third in scoring with a 12.1 average and leads PHCC in assists with a 3.8 average.
"His strength is his versatility," PHCC coach Bobby Bowman said of the 6-foot-5 sophomore. "The ball is in his hands a lot."
Just for good measure, Bowman listed Byrd as his team's best defender.
"I'd say he's very team-oriented," the coach said.
With the aforementioned statistics and accolades from his coach, one might think Byrd is a lock at the small forward position.
Not so. With forward John Jones (academically ineligible this semester) expected to rejoin the Conquistadors (4-10) in January, Bowman is considering moving Byrd back to guard.
"He takes the ball out against the press, because of his height and ballhandling ability," Bowman said. "He sees over people and does a pretty good job ballhandling.
"If (defenses) trap our receivers he's the guy we throw the ball to. He can bring it down."
Byrd's multi-skills stem, in part, from working with his father, an accomplished athlete in his own right. Jason Byrd Sr., a 1981 Springstead graduate, starred in track and football, and was the Eagles' first 1,000-yard rusher.
"He taught me everything; to play any position," Byrd, 19, said.
Added Byrd Sr., "I always taught him to be an all-around player; shoot, dribble, do it all."
Perhaps even more important than imparting his knowledge of athletics to his son was telling him to keep things in perspective -- win or lose.
"I always gave him positive encouragement and told him what he can work on," the elder Byrd said. "It's a great feeling to see him come along and mature."
Good games or bad, the younger Byrd said, "after the game, you know you're going to hear about it."
Like his father, Byrd also ran track and played football in high school. But he considers basketball is passion, which sets just fine with his father.
"I always wanted him to have his own identity," said Byrd Sr., who also played cornerback at Eastern Kentucky (1982-83). "Just because I was a football player I didn't push him to be one."
With six freshmen on the PHCC roster, Byrd also has taken on a leadership role this season.
During preseason practices, Byrd, who aspires to be an athletic trainer and continue to play basketball next season, spent time in the weight room. "I just worked hard," he said. "I felt that's what we need, is some leadership."
Added PHCC freshman Scott Sorensen, an All-Sunshine Athletic Conference player at Wesley Chapel last season, "(Byrd) is a hard worker. He tries to motivate everybody on defense and offense."