BY DONALD HUNT
This is an important time of the year for a lot of college basketball teams. Jefferson University basketball standout Hakim Byrd knows that it’s good to be playing great basketball on a consistent basis. Byrd, a former Neumann-Goretti star, feels Jefferson University (18-8 overall, 10-4 league) is on a magnificent run winning six out of its last seven games. Byrd has been a key contributor to the Rams’ success as they look to continue to play on a high level.
“We’ve been playing great,” Bryd said. “The energy has been high. We’re taking every game one game at a time. It’s like the most important time. We got a good stretch of games coming up. We got a lot of good teams. It’s going to be a battle. We got to come locked in every day.”
Byrd, a 5-10, 155-pound junior guard, is averaging 11.1 points and 2.5 rebounds a game. He has also compiled 76 assists this season. Byrd, the Rams’ point guard, credits much of his development from his playing days at Neumann-Goretti. The Saints have produced some terrific point guards over the years. Byrd is certainly one of them.
“There were a lot of top point guards coming out of there like Hysier Miller [Temple], Quade Green [former McDonald’s All-American who played for Kentucky and Washington] and Lamarr Kimble [former Saint Joseph’s and Louisville star],” Byrd said. “I call it ‘Guard University’ just because of that program. With me coming in there, it was like a tradition.
“My freshman year Quade Green was a senior. I had to guard him every day in practice. Quade was a senior. That made me better even though I didn’t even play varsity my freshman year. I was on jayvee [team]. I’m still on that journey to see how the team he led and pick up his traits and good habits of being a good point guard.”
Byrd was previously at Division I basketball programs Marist and UMBC respectively before transferring to Jefferson University. He’s excited about being home playing in front of his family and friends.
Jefferson University guard Hakim Byrd. (Photo courtesy/ Jefferson University Athletics)
Hakim Byrd helped lead Neumann-Goretti in capturing the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship in 2020. (PSD photo by Mike Nance)
“Being home is great,” Byrd said. “I get to see all my home boys, my mom and dad. All my family comes to every home game. Having that support is real good.”
Byrd will be a major player to watch the rest of the season for Jefferson University heading into the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference tournament next month.