One of Kentucky’s highest-rated high school basketball players makes her college choice
Another one of Kentucky high school basketball’s best and brightest is off the board.
George Rogers Clark star Ciara Byars announced via social media on Wednesday evening that she’s committed to the University of Michigan. Byars chose the Wolverines over fellow finalists California, Louisville, Maryland, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.
“All Glory To God!! Found my new HOME!!” Byars captioned the post.
Byars, a 6-foot-2 forward, ranks as the No. 63 national prospect in the class of 2025, and the No. 3-ranked recruit in the state of Kentucky. Byars’ commitment marks Michigan head coach Kim Barnes-Arico’s third top-100 pledge in the class and third overall; Byars joins 6-1 forward Jessica Fields (Georgia), the No. 99 prospect in the class and the younger sister of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, and 5-10 guard McKenzie Mathurin (Oklahoma), No. 37.
Barnes-Arico was among the first Division I coaches to offer Byars a scholarship and, according to the senior, the Wolverines have remained consistent throughout her entire recruitment process.
“They constantly have shown love and just how much they want me,” Byars said. “I believe that they can better me, not only as a player, but as a person, as well. And, I mean, they’re just hard, hard workers.”
Byars took her official visit earlier this year, but told the Herald-Leader that her first trip up to Ann Arbor just so happened to fall on the day of Michigan football’s annual rivalry game against Ohio State, which the Wolverines won 30-24 last November.
“It was just truly amazing,” Byars said. “And I’m looking forward to going back for a game this year. Just being around the girls and everything, it really sealed the deal for me. The atmosphere of Michigan, and everything that the Block M represents.”
Byars also noted her appreciation for the Michigan fan base, and said the program is “at a great point.”
“They’re just so excited about athletics right now in that program,” Byars said. “And the fan base is just hungry, so I’m just happy to be a part of it.
“I’m super excited, especially with the conference realignment and everything. It’s gonna be great. It’s gonna be really competitive, but I’m excited to play with my future teammates and do really big things.”
Barnes-Arico was hired at Michigan in 2012, and since then has lifted the Wolverines to back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances beginning in 2021, and a program-best trip to the Elite Eight in 2022. Last season, the team went 20-14 (9-9 Big Ten), and fell in a tough overtime matchup to Kansas in the opening round of NCAA play. She signed the highest-rated recruiting class in program history during the 2024 cycle; the class includes top-five prospect Syla Swords, a member of Canada’s Paris Olympics roster, and five-star guard Olivia Olson.
Byars, a dynamic scorer on GRC’s varsity roster since she was in seventh grade, has led the Cardinals in scoring since her freshman season. She was on track to extend that streak, averaging 14.1 points per game through the first 15 games of her junior season last year, when she suffered an ACL injury during the Cardinals’ Jan. 6 game against Montgomery County.
“Before the injury, during the injury, after the injury,” Byars said. “They’ve been there right by my side. They’re just so supportive, and that’s what stuck out to me.”
George Rogers Clark head coach Robbie Graham told the Herald-Leader following Byars’ commitment that he’s “very proud of Ciara, and the hard work and dedication she’s put in to earn this opportunity.”
“The University of Michigan is getting an outstanding young lady,” Graham said. “Very high character, a very good student in the classroom and a prime-time player. So she’s got all the characteristics to be very successful at that level.”
According to Graham, her character shone in the time since her industry; the already strong leader only stepped up and continued that leadership.
“She’s always been a true leader,” Graham said. “Even at a young age, she had that natural ability to be a leader. Once she went down and she was able to get back around the team, she just continued with that leadership through practice sessions, through games.
“Very vocal, talking to players. If they made a bad play or whatever, just ‘Keep your head up, keep working.’ And basically became another coach on the sideline, on the bench. Just very helpful, would see things that maybe we didn’t see, and say, ‘Coach, did you see this?’ or, ‘Maybe take a look at that.’ Very high basketball IQ. She’s always there to help out and continued to show her leadership, even though she couldn’t be on the court performing physically.”
Byars told the Herald-Leader that she’s “feeling amazing,” in terms of her recovery, and looks forward to her official return to the court.
“Strength is the name of the game,” Byars said. “The only thing that I’m not allowed to do at this point is any serious cutting, but everything else is free game. Everything is on track, everything’s going great. I’m just excited to work my way back out there. Not rushing, just taking my time. But when the time is right, the time will be right.”
The 2024-25 high school basketball season in Kentucky tips off Dec. 2.
Byars played AAU with local Nike EYBL team Kentucky Premier and is the younger sister of Cincinnati sophomore forward Brianna Byars, who averaged 2.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game during her freshman season.
Byars is one of three in-state prospects ranked among the class of 2025’s top 70 national prospects alongside Bethlehem forward Leah Macy (No. 16), who committed to Notre Dame in May, and Sacred Heart Academy guard and Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year ZaKiyah Johnson (No. 12), who plans to commit at the end of November. Johnson’s finalists include Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Notre Dame, Southern California and South Carolina.
This story was originally published October 23, 2024 at 8:12 PM.
