'An incredible opportunity': Waukesha Catholic Memorial's Rich Byhre returns to home state with UWGB commitment
Rich Byhre dreamed of an opportunity to play college basketball close to home after a prep career at Waukesha Catholic Memorial.
Spending the last four years at NCAA Division II Rockhurst University in Kansas City, the 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward entered the transfer portal last month and received immediate interest from DI schools when his name hit the wire.
He visited Drake and Northern Illinois and had a few other stops scheduled.
None of them mattered after Sundance Wicks was named the new coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay last month.
Wicks contacted Byhre a short time later and offered him a scholarship. He visited campus and met with Wicks on March 21.
It all went even better than Byhre anticipated. He didn’t have negative expectations going in, but he also was aware UWGB is coming off a 3-29 season and has struggled the past few years.
“I could hear the excitement in his voice,” Byhre said of Wicks. “I could tell he made me a priority. I have a teammate of mine right now (Rockhurst guard Nico Felici) who played for him at his other school (Missouri Western), and he had nothing but good things to say about him. The coaching staff was really excited about me from Day 1. They were supportive and all-in, and they feel like I can be an impact player for them.
“Being able to build up a program in my home state is just an incredible opportunity.”
The graduate transfer announced his commitment to UWGB on Friday and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Per NCAA rules, Wicks is not allowed to comment on potential recruits until all their paperwork with the school has been completed.
Rich Byhre's path to UWGB started with long, hard rehab
Byhre’s path back to his home state and to DI for the first time has not been easy.
Not after a gruesome injury at the beginning of his senior season of high school that left him with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, lateral collateral ligament and meniscus, not to mention damage to almost every other structural bone in his right knee.
Doctors warned there was a chance he would not be able to play competitive basketball again. It’s a moment he never will forget.
“But then I found a really, really amazing rehab team,” Byhre said. “They said, ‘Nah, nah, nah, we are going to get you back, not only to where you were, but even better.’”
Not everybody shared in the optimism. Every school that was connected to him dropped its offer or interest after the injury.
Except for one.
Rockhurst coach and former Goodrich High School star Drew Diener still wanted him, and Byhre was intent on rewarding his faith by returning to the court and being an impact player.
Byhre took a medical redshirt his first season at Rockhurst while returning to full health, but he kept improving each year he was at the school.
He started seven contests and played 20 as a freshman after two seasons away from the game. He averaged 4.5 points and 2.4 rebounds and scored in double figures four times.
Byhre became a full-time starter his sophomore season, averaging 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and shooting 44.4%.
It was just a preview of a total breakout as a junior this past season.
He led Rockhurst in scoring (17.9 ppg), rebounding (8.1 rpg), blocks (22), minutes (33 mpg) and shooting percentage (50.5%) while ranking second to Felici in 3-point shooting (40%).
“He’s a guy who is a dilemma because he’s very skilled as a perimeter player and decision maker and shooter,” Diener said. “He has a great basketball IQ, and with certain matchups, he can go down low and face up or finish so well with both hands. He’s really good with both hands as a passer and finisher, and then when he can space the floor with that pick-and-pop situation that the game has gone to.
“As a defender, an elite talker. We emphasize talking on defense and getting on the same page in our coverages, and he just directs traffic whether he’s involved in the play or not.”
Diener also noticed how much Byhre was committed to taking care of himself and his body, especially after such a serious injury.
It wasn’t uncommon for Byhre to put in extra work after practice, not just on the court but from a strength and agility standpoint. Even after team weightlifting sessions, he often was doing something more to make sure he was at his best for games.
“Which I really respected, and I think all our guys really respected,” Diener said. “I think it just showed how serious he was about his sport and the time he put in. … It showed the determination for him to be great.”
MORE: UWGB basketball recruit Will Eames says former coach Sundance Wicks 'really left an imprint on me'
Diener and his star pupil formed a strong connection, with Byhre often helping Diener at the basketball camps he runs while back home in the Milwaukee area.
Diener’s three young sons, Everett, Roosevelt and Xavier, grew fond of Byhre, sitting next to him on road trips or sharing their love of the Milwaukee Bucks and Green Bay Packers. One of them even shed tears when their father told them Byhre was leaving.
“I know how much Rich loves the state of Wisconsin,” Diener said. “And when he met with me, his goal was, ‘Hey, I want to try to get back in Wisconsin and play Division I.’ I respected that. He graduated from here and gave us his heart and soul. To see that come to fruition with the coaching change up there and it working out, I’m really happy for him.”
Byhre ready to help Phoenix rebound
Byhre is excited to join the Phoenix and help it rebound from the worst season in program history. He’s familiar with one future teammate in recent commit Will Eames. The duo faced each other when Rockhurst played Missouri Western and Eames each of the past two seasons.
He also is aware of past glory days at UWGB and wants to create some in the present. He watched Phoenix great Keifer Sykes play and works out with former UWGB standout Carrington Love during the summer.
Byhre has gotten everything he wanted. He’s back in Wisconsin and at the highest level of college basketball.
But the hard work does not stop now. It only has started.
“To play Division I basketball, I think it’s something I’ve earned,” Byhre said. “But at the same time, it’s something that I have to continue to earn. It’s not something I will take for granted.”
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Catholic Memorial's Rich Byhre commits to UWGB men's basketball team
