Posted August 4, 2005

By Kevin Devlin

     He is a quiet, mild-mannered, young boy who loves to play basketball day and night.

     His charter school team last season went undefeated in regular season play with an impressive 16-0 record, but lost a heartbreaker in the championship finale.

      Two years ago, he was a member of the Woodrow Wilson hoop squad that was 8-4.

     His 15 and under Boston Neighborhood Basketball League (BNBL) team, the Old Colony Club, is currently 5-1, and is hoping to capture the regional title and then possibly the city championship.

     He's deadly from the perimeter and proud of the fact that in a recent BNBL game he hit five three pointers from downtown.

     His name is Faybian Byrd.

     Faybian, 15, attends the City on the Hill Charter School located in Boston. He will be entering the ninth grade this upcoming September, and plans to continue focusing on his class work as well as his athletic pursuits.

     During his leisure time, and whenever possible, Faybian loves devouring slices of delicious cheese pizza. He also enjoys being involved in pickup baseball and football games, and simply just likes to "sleep, eat, and practice." Practice honing his hoop skills that is.

     Condon Community Center gym recreation coordinator Jerry O'Neil has nothing but good things to say about our young student-athlete.
He's just a good kid," said O'Neil. "Faybian is reserved, quiet, polite, and determined to improve himself in school and in athletics everyday."

     Someday, Faybian hopes to don the uniform of an NBA player.

     If he continues to work hard and stay determined, he may eventually realize his dreams and aspirations, and be a star in the NBA.

     It's certainly worth the try.

     Don't you think?