by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
An All-Star shooting guard from Missouri is Kansas City Kansas Community College’s first women’s basketball recruit for 2018-19.
Brodi Byrd, a 5-6 guard who played four years of varsity basketball including three years as a starter at Truman High School in Independence, signed a letter of intent to attend KCKCC with her future teammates looking on Wednesday.
“A fantastic shooter who can also put the ball on the floor to create shots for herself and her teammates,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “It’s just the kind of two-way player we feel we need, one who can do both and not just one or the other. Playing in a very successful high school program coached by Steve Cassidy, she’s a high IQ player who I know has a strong desire to win – very savvy who can shoot it and put it on the floor.”
In coming to KCKCC, Byrd will be joining some of her former competitors. She also saw at least three Blue Devil games this season.
“I’m excited, good coaches and teammates and a lot of opportunities for what comes afterwards,” Byrd said. “It’s a small school but athletics are important.”
The daughter of John and Janice Byrd, she earned first team all-conference and all-district honors this past season, averaging 9.8 points a game on a Truman team that reached the district championship game.
Byrd has been selected to play in three post-season All-Star games, the maximum that is allowed. She has already participated in the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MOBCA) Missouri Challenge game in Springfield.
On Saturday, she’ll play in the Sideline Sportstalk KC All-Star game at Rockhurst University and then will compete in the annual Mo-Kan All-Star contest sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association at Avila University April 13.
At KCKCC, Byrd joins a program that over the last three years has compiled a 73-27 record including an NJCAA Division II national championship in 2016.
