Louisville, Baylor Pursue Mountain West DPOY

San Diego State's Miles Byrd drawing interest from high-major programs

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:24am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the defensive movements and intensity of a college basketball player, with sharp planes of vibrant team colors.A cubist interpretation of a lockdown defender's intensity and athleticism on the basketball court.San Diego Today

San Diego State wing Miles Byrd, the 2026 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, has entered the transfer portal and is drawing early interest from Louisville and Baylor as he looks to play at the high-major level next season. Byrd has been a standout defender for the Aztecs over the past four seasons, averaging over 2 steals and 1 block per game.

Why it matters

Both Louisville and Baylor struggled on the defensive end of the floor last season, which contributed to them falling short of expectations. Adding a lockdown perimeter defender like Byrd could help shore up those defensive issues and make them more competitive in 2026-27.

The details

Byrd has been a key contributor for San Diego State over the past four seasons, helping the Aztecs narrowly miss the NCAA Tournament in 2026. While his scoring numbers (10.4 PPG) won't wow anyone, Byrd has been an elite defender, earning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2026 after averaging around 2 steals and 1 block per game over the last two seasons.

  • Byrd has been at San Diego State for four seasons under head coach Brian Dutcher.
  • Byrd was named the 2026 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.

The players

Miles Byrd

A wing player who has been a standout defender for San Diego State over the past four seasons, earning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2026.

Brian Dutcher

The head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs, who has coached Byrd for the past four seasons.

Louisville

A high-major Division I basketball program that is reportedly interested in adding Byrd to their roster for the 2026-27 season.

Baylor

A high-major Division I basketball program that is reportedly interested in adding Byrd to their roster for the 2026-27 season.

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What they’re saying

“Louisville and Baylor are among the teams to watch in Byrd's recruitment, according to Joe Tipton of On3 Sports.”

— Joe Tipton, On3 Sports Reporter

What’s next

As the transfer portal window continues to heat up, it will be worth monitoring where Byrd ultimately decides to continue his college basketball career after four seasons at San Diego State.

The takeaway

Byrd's defensive prowess and experience at the mid-major level make him an intriguing target for high-major programs like Louisville and Baylor that are looking to shore up their defensive shortcomings from the 2025-26 season. His addition could be a game-changer for whichever school is able to land the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.