Miles Byrd will get his bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Diego State in May and then, like most graduates, pursue a well-paying job elsewhere.
The last remaining member of SDSU’s 2023 Final Four roster announced Friday that he is entering the NCAA transfer portal with the intention of using his final year of collegiate eligibility at another program.
In a social media post that went live at noon, Byrd wrote: “It wasn’t an easy decision, but I’m excited for what’s ahead and the opportunity to keep chasing my goals.”
The 6-foot-6 lefty explored turning pro last spring but was clear beforehand that if he returned to college, it would be with the Aztecs. He’s been more vague when queried this year, and the feeling around the program was that he’d follow former teammates Lamont Butler and Keshad Johnson, who spent four years at SDSU and graduated before closing their college careers at Kentucky and Arizona, respectively.
“I think Miles will have an interesting decision to make,” coach Brian Dutcher said recently, in some ways telegraphing the move. “It’s no different than Lamont or Keshad. He’s going to graduate from San Diego State. … He’ll have an interesting decision financially, whether it’s at another college or whether he thinks he has a chance to get into the NBA this year.
“It’ll be an interesting choice. I will be supportive over whatever one he decides to make.”
Another clue: Participating in Senior Night with his family.
“Thank you (Miles) for an amazing four years,” a social media post by the SDSU men’s basketball account said. “Your impact on this program will last forever. A soon to be college graduate and forever an #AztecForLife!”
Byrd did not indicate whether he’d also provisionally enter the NBA Draft again, although more players seem to be staying in college given that the upcoming draft is expected to be the deepest in years. And a guy picked in the second round can make more money – sometimes significantly more – in college.
Either way, he’s gone.
“After four unforgettable years,” Byrd’s social media post said, “I want to thank San Diego State for everything it’s given me – on and off the court. The memories, the battles, the brotherhood and the growth will always mean more than words can fully capture. Wearing that No. 21 jersey and representing not only the school but the whole city of San Diego has been a true blessing.”
He played in four games as a true freshman, then shut it down for the remainder of the season with a variety of maladies and successfully petitioned for a medical redshirt. He averaged 14.1 minutes in 34 games in his second year, all of it off the bench, on a team that reached the Sweet 16.
He became a starter as a junior, averaging 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He played well enough at the NBA Draft combine in Chicago last May to project as an early- to mid-second round pick, then returned to SDSU after not receiving assurances he would get a guaranteed contract.
He was the Mountain West preseason player of the year but never quite lived up to that projection, with numbers that approximated the previous season and landed him on third team all-conference. He was, however, named Defensive Player of the Year after ranking in the top five in the conference in both steals and blocks.
“I think it’s just expectations, especially when you’re preseason player of the year,” Byrd said earlier this month. “A lot of people expect you to go out there and average 18 points per game. It’s never really been my type of game. I’ve been more a guy who does little things and tries to make winning plays to help our team win.
“It’s a mixture. Obviously, I know as a player I could have been a lot better in a lot of different areas more consistently this year. As a person and as a confident player, I also see the impact that I made that maybe isn’t noticed on every box score. You’ve got to see it from both angles.”
Miles Byrd #21 of San Diego State goes up for a shot against Adlan Elamin #35 of Utah State during their game at Viejas Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Byrd’s departure was widely expected, and the Aztecs already have a plug-and-play replacement in redshirt junior Latrell Davis, who transferred from San Jose State last spring with the understanding he’d sit out if Byrd withdrew from the draft.
Dutcher maintained that arrangement despite, he has since admitted, “I think if we had him and played him this year, we’d be in the NCAA Tournament.”
The 6-foot-3 Davis does not offer the length and defensive disruption as Byrd, but he might be a more lethal offensive weapon with his dual ability to shoot 3s (38.3% in 2024-25) and get to the rim with his sturdy 212-pound frame. Those who saw him on the scout team in practice all season would attest to that.
“He’s an everyday guy,” Dutcher said of Davis’ consistently high motor. “He’s extremely talented, and he has a skill set that some of the players I had on the team didn’t have this year. I’m encouraged by adding Latrell next year. I think he’ll have a chance to be a first-team all-conference type of player.”
SAN DIEGO – FEBRUARY 17, 2026: The Aztecs’ Miles Byrd shoots over Grand Canyon’s Dusty Stromer in the second half at the Viejas Arena in San Diego on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The Aztecs could lose another veteran guard in BJ Davis, whose agency announced Tuesday he “intends” to enter the transfer portal when it opens April 7. Davis, who has one year of eligibility remaining, has since said he’s “still considering staying,” leaving the door ajar for a return.
Two other players who could be next are 6-5 rising junior Taj DeGourville, who lost his starting job five games into the season and averaged 5.5 points; and starting forward Miles Heide, who recently retained an agency that announced via social media the 6-9 rising senior will explore “his opportunities for the upcoming NCAA season.”