R-MC Assistant Coach JD Byers to be Honored Saturday at his Alma-Mater

LVC To Honor J.D. Byers '05 Saturday Night

ANNVILLE, Pa. - Prior to this Saturday's 8 p.m. men's basketball game between Lebanon Valley and Penn State Harrisburg in the Rinso Marquette Tournament, Lebanon Valley College is proud to unveil a banner honoring the retired number 23 of Jon-David Byers.

In 2007-08, LVC began to hang banners for each of its retired numbers, adding a piece of history every year to the new gymnasium. The first retired number, the #11 of Howie Landa '55, was dedicated in 2007, and last year, Don Johnson '74's #40 was unveiled.

This year, LVC is proud to welcome back one of its most decorated alumni. Byers, who is currently an assistant coach with Randolph-Macon College, was an NABC First-Team All-America after he led LVC to the NCAA Tournament Second Round as a senior in 2004-05.

The true definition of a student-athlete, Byers mixed jaw-dropping skill at point guard with academic success in the classroom, and was named the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-American of the Year as a senior to go along with the Josten's Award, which is given to college basketball's top student-athlete. A finalist for the Bob Cousy Award for collegiate point guards, Byers finished with 1,898 career points (fifth on LVC's all-time list) and drained a school record 301 three-pointers. In 2007, the two-time Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year was the fifth player in program history to have his jersey retired.

After graduation, Byers began a coaching career as a graduate assistant at Fairleigh Dickinson before returning to Annville under Brad McAlester. He moved on to R-MC under fellow Dutchman great Mike Rhoades, and has been an assistant there since 2007-08.