FIU Athletics

AWARDS AND HONORS
Conference USA All-Freshman Team (2025-26)
Conference USA All-Defense Team (2025-26)
3x Conference USA Freshman of the Week (12/29, 2/9, 2/16)

2025-26 (Freshman): Had one of the best freshman seasons in program history, appearing in 30 games, starting all of them and averaging 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, assists and steals... Only player in FIU history to be named All-Freshman and All-Defense during a season... Was named Conference USA Freshman of the Week three times during the season... Among freshmen in program history, ranked third in double-doubles with eight, leading the team... also finished third in rebounds, fourth in blocks, steals and assists and seventh in appearances in FIU freshman history... Recorded first career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds against Trinity College of Jacksonville (Dec. 22)... Season-best performance of 21 points and nine rebounds in Conference USA opener against Liberty (Dec. 28)... Had a wild performance of 15 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and four steals at Kennesaw State (Jan. 14)... Went 6-11 from the field, scoring 15 points and adding a career-best 13 boards against Delaware (Feb. 12)... Tied FIU and CUSA Tourney record with 10 offensive rebounds (13 total) against Missouri State, just the fourth time in program history that has occurred and first since 2013 (Mar. 10).

Prep: Attended ABF Academy and Miami Prep (FL), graduating in 2025… dominant presence at power forward/center… averaged 14.8 points and 12 rebounds per game… named MVP of the Big Shot Post Grad National Tournament, MVP of the SIAA Regional Conference, and MVP of the Miami-Dade All-Star Game… also earned First Team honors in the Florida Sun Basketball Conference… helped lead his team to a state championship in the SIAA Regional Conference and a national championship at the post-grad level… also played for Metropolitan 92

Personal: Born on May 15, 2006, in Yaoundé, Cameroon… son of Tomou Bertin Bayard and Njdonko Dibami Esther Hermione… has seven siblings, Joyce, Raphaël, Yvette, Royal, Chelsea, Fiona, and Lenny… father, Tomou Bertin Bayard, played professional soccer… fluent in multiple languages and brings international experience to the court