San Diego State fans have been recovering from the Aztecs ‘oh so close‘, but still first four out of the NCAA tournament conclusion to this season. However in the past two weeks news of two high profile players have made their intentions known to enter the portal when it officially opens after the National Championship game.
BJ Davis announced via social media that he intended to enter the portal, but later clarified via the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Marc Zeigler that he was still undecided on wether to return to SDSU or not.
The most recent news has been that of Mountain West 2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year, Miles Byrd. He made his announcement public in a dear San Diego State letter to fans and was posted via his social media. The message focused on his gratefulness after spending the last four years not only as a member of the SDSU program, but also his time spent experiencing San Diego as a city.
It has been quite the journey for Byrd. The 6’6″ wing out of Stockton, California came to the Mesa with much excitement and anticipation. In his first season at SDSU he utilized his redshirt as the team won all the way to the Final Four in Houston and an eventual National Championship game runner-up.
His redshirt freshman season the following year saw his production as still a spot-usage role player, mostly in for defensive minutes and a spark. The next two season’s however saw a significant increase in his minutes—a major jump becoming a primary offensive option while starting every game.
In fact under Brian Dutcher’s usual balanced offensive system at SDSU, Byrd’s peak usage fits in line with typical secondary/primary wing scorers. Metrically speaking his shot share within the team hovered around 16% to 19% in his final two seasons on the Mesa.
Though just averaging around 10 points per contest Byrd’s offensive production never quite matched the attempts or expectations to take the next step. But the defensive side of his game is what really made Miles a versatile component to the SDSU program.
In his final season where he earned the MWDPOY honors, Byrd’s 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game ranked in the top-5 in both steals and blocks—a truly special ranking considering his height, weight and other factors when lined up against his peers around the league.
Of course there also was this incredible buzzer beater early in the season against Troy. Unfortunately the Aztecs eventually lost in the upset of the season, so the heroics of this play will always be undervalued.
In the end, Byrd’s time on the Mesa isn’t the easiest to explain or tie a bow on in a way that everyone can fully agree. His mark as an Aztec player might best be summed up as presence more than that of production—and as we just mentioned he absolutely did produce.
His intensity of disrupting opposing offenses often kept SDSU within striking distance in games they were overmatched or kept the Aztecs foot on the gas in games they were dominating. Dutcher & staff knew what they were getting game in and game out on the defensive end. And that is what SDSU basketball hangs it’s hat on. But it was the offensive inconsistency that stymied the projections of earning all the preseason accolades he acquired.
As expected all season Miles Byrd has played his final game for the red & black. The early rumblings have Byrd gaining attention from a Kentucky program that may benefit greatly from a defensive minded assassin of his nature.
The rumors may have some merit to them. Just a year removed we saw an SDSU legend in Lamont Butler flourish in Mark Pope’s offense there with the SEC’s Wildcats. Butler who arrived in Lexington was around a career 30% shooter from three point distance. There he found his shot to increase quite a bit in his UK senior season climbing up to nearly 39% from deep.
Byrd and Butler have similarities of both being DPOY winners, excellent playmakers when out in transition, and their high energy/positive attitudes, but that’s about where their similarities end. The two both score and handle the ball in very different roles and styles—with Butler being more of a point guard/facilitator.
Unless the deal is done, aside from Kentucky we expect more teams to be thrown out there in the mix and rightfully so. If Byrd can show that his 3 point percentage can ascend higher than it was on the Mesa, it can do wonders for his post college career in the professional ranks. It will be something Aztec Nation keeps an eye on with great interest.
Moving forward for SDSU, Byrd’s effectiveness isn’t as easy to replace as some may have you to believe. For Dutcher & staff they will need to replace that defensive production to keep the program ascending into the Pac-12. When it comes to who can possess the same caliber of coverage that might return from last season’s roster, asking that question is a legitimate one.
From day one Byrd was all in on being an Aztec for Life. Always a fan favorite, his endearing nature kept many connected to that special Final Four team. But that connection and the expectations that come with it also had a special way to draw in the ire from those who grew frustrated with his performance.
It’s a thin line between belief & pessimism in sports.
Deserved or not, the expectations from a hungry fanbase remain. With Byrd moving on to a different chapter in his journey, where will those Aztecs fans decide to place those assumptions next?
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