#4 Derrick Byars

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vucommodores.com/derrickbyars 2006-2007 (Senior):
Named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year by the league’s coaches … 2007 Unanimous First Team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches … 2007 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American … Named First Team All-SEC by the Associated Press … Named All-District 7 as a senior by the National Association of Basketball Coaches … Chosen All-District 4 as a senior by the United States Basketball Writer’s Association … Ranked second in the SEC averaging 19.1 points during league play … Ranked among the SEC leaders in nine statistical categories for the season – more than any other player in the league … Led Vanderbilt in scoring 17 times during the season, including 14 of the last 20 games … Led the Commodores in scoring in seven of its 10 games against ranked opponents, averaging 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from 3-point range … Tallied 19 of his game high 27 points after halftime in Vanderbilt’s 78-74 double-overtime win against Washington State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament … Twice named SEC Player of the Week … Netted 24 points in Vanderbilt’s 83-70 over No. 1 Florida in Nashville … Accounted for 25 points in Vanderbilt’s 82-81 victory against then-No. 16 Tennessee … Poured in a career-high 32 points against South Carolina in Nashville … Started all 34 games played for the Commodores, averaging 17.0 point s in 31.4 minutes.

2006 Summer:
Averaged 22.6 points and 12.7 rebounds in five games during a mission trip to Brazil as part of Sports Reach ministries. The team consisted of six other players from the SEC.

2005-06 (Junior):
Started all 30 games for the Commodores, averaging 31.5 minutes … Ranked second in the SEC in 3-point shooting percentage (.441), making 63 of 143 attempts … Ranked seventh in the league, averaging 2.10 3-pointers per contest … Finished second on the team in scoring at 12.4 points per game … Led the Commodores in assists with 3.2 per game … Shot 62.5 percent from 3-point range (10-of-16) and 56.5 percent from the field (12-of-23) while averaging 19.0 points in two games at the SEC Tournament … Named SEC Player of the Week (Nov. 28-Dec. 4) after netting a season-high 25 points with five 3-pointers against Cincinnati (12/10) and 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting against Oregon (11/30) … Handed out a season-best eight assists at Ole Miss (3/1) … Scored in double figures in 20 games … Led the Commodores in steals 12 times, assists eight times and scoring seven times.

2003-04 (Sophomore at Virginia):
Started 18 of 31 games played, averaging 20.9 minutes … Averaged 7.5 points and 3.4 rebounds … Scored in double figures 11 times … Scored 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, including a trio of 3-pointers at Loyola Marymount (12/19) … Recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds against Coastal Carolina (12/22) … Netted 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe against Iowa State … Scored 18 points at No. 19 Wake Forest (1/31).

2002-03 (Freshman at Virginia):
Started 16 of 31 games played, averaging 20.9 minutes … Averaged 6.5 points and 2.9 rebounds … Scored a season-high 20 points and swiped five steals coming off the bench in a 72-65 win over Gardner-Webb (12/19) … Netted 16 points as a reserve in an 84-76 victory over East Tennessee State (12/17) … Scored 15 points and was 4-of-6 from 3-point range in the win over Florida State (1/29) … Tallied 10 points in victory over Kentucky (11/26) at the Maui Invitational Tournament … Grabbed a season-high eight rebounds in the win over Chaminade (11/25) in Maui … Started the first five games of the season … Made two free throws with 1:56 left to play to provide the final margin of victory in a 61-58 home victory over N.C. State (2/9) … Shot 42.4 percent (14-of-33) from 3-point range in the last 14 games in which he played … Scored in double figures 10 times.

Ridgeway High School:
Named fourth-team Parade All-America and Gatorade Player of the Year in Tennessee as a senior, averaging 23.2 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in 2002 … Earned First Team All-State honors and was a Tennessee Mr. Basketball finalist as a senior … Chosen the District 15-AA regular season Player of the Year, Tournament Most Valuable Player, Most Valuable Player in the Region 8-AA Tournament and was the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Class AA State Tournament Most Valuable Player … Helped lead Ridgeway to the District 15-AA Tournament championship, the Region 8-AA Tournament title, the West Tennessee Substate title and the TSSAA Class AA State Championship in 2002 … Named the Memphis Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Class AA Best of Preps Player of the Year … Shot 37 percent from 3-point range and 77 percent from the free throw line … Earned honorable mention All-State honors and was named to the Region 8-AA All-Tournament Team, the District 15-AA Tournament’s Most Valuable Player and a First Team All-District selection during the regular season … Three-year letterman and starter for head coach Wesley Henning.

Personal:
Derrick JaVaughn Byars … Born April 25, 1984 in Memphis, Tenn. … Son of Barbara and David Byars … Has fours siblings, including brothers David Byars (33), Darryle Byars (35) and sisters Desiree Anderson (34), Bridget Byars (20) … Majoring in sociology … Nickname is ‘Dee Bee’ … Advice to youngsters: ‘Always do what your parents or guardian says; set goals in life; and don’t let anything stand in the way of what God has in store for you’ … Chose Vanderbilt over Mississippi State, Tennessee and Ole Miss.

Byars Career Highs at Vanderbilt:

Points: 25, vs. Cincinnati (12/10/05);

FG Made: 9, vs. Cincinnati (12/10/05);

FG Atts: 15, at Notre Dame (3/15/06);

3FG Made: 5, 3x, last vs. LSU (3/10/06);

3FG Atts: 9, vs. LSU (2/22/06);

FT Made: 5, vs. Georgia (2/4/06);

FT Atts: 8, vs. Oregon (11/30/05);

Rebounds: 7, 3x, last at Tennessee (2/1/06);

Assists: 8, at Ole Miss (3/1/06);

Turnovers: 5, 3x, last vs. Tennessee (3/4/06);

Blocks: 1, 6x, last vs. Miss. State (1/21/06);

Steals: 3, 2x, last vs. UNCG (11/22/05);

Minutes: 39, vs. Auburn (3/9/06).