Bayard Forrest
Bayard Forrest (born July 8, 1954) is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a 6'10" 235 lb center who played at Grand Canyon University before being drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1976 NBA draft. Forrest never played for the Sonics but played one season for Athletes in action. Then played two seasons for the Phoenix Suns before retiring in 1980.
 Forrest as a freshman at Grand Canyon | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 8, 1954 San Jose, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Bandon (Bandon, Oregon) |
| College | Grand Canyon (1972–1976) |
| NBA draft | 1976 / Round: 2 / Pick: 19th overall |
| Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics | |
| Playing career | 1977–1979 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 35 |
| Career history | |
| 1977–1979 | Phoenix Suns |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
College career
Forrest attended Grand Canyon University, a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Forrest declined offers from Oregon State University, Arizona State University and the University of Hawaii because he wanted to go to a Christian school. Forrest lead Grand Canyon to the 1975 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament where they defeated Midwestern State University 65-54 in the Championship. In the Championship game, Forrest had 16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.[1] In four years at Grand Canyon, he averaged 18 points a game and 12.7 rebounds a game while shooting 53.5% from the field.
Professional career
Forrest was selected in the second round (19th pick overall) in the 1976 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. Forrest turned down the Sonics in favor of Athletes in Action and later signed with the Phoenix Suns in 1977. Forrest served as Alvan Adams' back up in 1978 and 1979. The Suns reached the Western Conference Finals in the 1979 NBA Playoffs before falling to the Sonics in seven games. While in Phoenix, Forrest averaged 15.3 minutes a game, 4.1 points a game, 4.2 rebounds a game and 2.2 assists a game. He retired on June 7, 1980.
Before being drafted by the Sonics, Forrest was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the 3rd round (54th overall) of the 1975 NBA Draft and by the San Antonio Spurs in the 6th round (56th overall) of the 1975 ABA Draft. He turned down both teams to play his senior season in college.
Personal
Forrest's nephew, Caleb Forrest, played four years of college basketball at Washington State University.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Basketball-Reference.com