Kentucky WBB target and four-star prospect Ciara Byars updates recruitment

The gymnasium at St. X High School was packed to the gills on Friday night as the George Rogers Clark Cardinals took the court against the three-time defending state champs, Sacred Heart.

While the Valkyries came into this game with seven losses, all of them came to elite teams from around the country. The last time these two faced off was in the 2023 Sweet 16, when Sacred Heart won 57-53.

It’s safe to say this was a high-stakes game that would be the tone-setter with the postseason quickly approaching.

One of the other big parts of this game was the level of talent that would be featured. Sacred Heart’s ZaKiyah Johnson is currently listed as the fifth overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class nationally, per ESPN. Against GRC, she would score 19 points on 7-9 (2-3 3PT) shooting while also securing six boards in the 61-49 victory.

However, there was one big name that was missing from the box score on Friday night. Enter Ciara Byars. Byars is a Top 40 prospect nationally (ESPN) whose junior season came to a crushing halt due to an ACL injury she suffered on January 6th in a game against Montgomery County. This season, Byars was averaging 14.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game prior to her unfortunate injury.

Even though Byars wasn’t in action against Sacred Heart, she was in attendance for the game, rooting as hard as she could on the sidelines. Following the game, Byars would speak with KSR exclusively to give us an update on her college recruitment.

So, enough rambling. Let’s see what Byars had to tell us.

Getting to know the GRC phenom

When you watch Ciara Byars on the floor, there are a lot of ways to describe her. She plays like a prototypical big, but she’s more than capable of stretching out the defense and knocking down shots from deep. But what does Byars herself say she will bring to a program?

“Versatility and leadership,” she told KSR. “I would say being a vocal leader and [bringing] lots and lots of energy.”

Of course, it’s hard for Byars to really bring anything to the court right now considering she has been sidelined for over a month. As you can imagine, the news she received regarding how severe her injury really was hit her like a bus.

“When I heard the extent of the injury, it was very depressing, gut-wrenching. Talking to my coaches and teammates, they all made it feel better… Honestly, recovery has been hard so far, but I have great PTs (personal trainers) and everybody’s just pushing me to get back to being the athlete that I am.”

The inner workings of her recruiting process

Byars, being as talented as she is, holds offers from many programs across the country. Kentucky, Maryland, Miami (FL), Louisville, and Michigan are just some of those schools Byars holds offers from. Of course, there’s always going to be schools that prioritize some athletes over others. You gotta choose your battles.

Here’s who Byars says is recruiting her the hardest.

“I would say for sure the in-state schools try harder than anybody,” Byars explained. “Yeah, for me, but for everyone, just trying to keep us all home. I would definitely say Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, a few others.”

She added, “A lot of them are just being very supportive throughout the process and just really pushing. Miami, too.”

Playing for GRC, Byars has gotten used to playing in a winning culture. In college, she wants to continue to strive for championships regardless of who she’s playing for.

“Distance doesn’t matter to me. Whether I stay home or go far, that’s not gonna play a factor in my decision. I’m looking for that family atmosphere and a team that wants to win and possibly win a national championship. Definitely want to get to the next level whether that’s overseas or in the WNBA.”

Byars’ relationship with Kyra Elzy and Kentucky

When you factor in that Byars wants a path to a national title and a professional career, you may think that takes Kentucky off the board. However, according to the four-star forward, the ‘Cats are very much still in the mix.

“I have a great relationship with Coach Elzy,” Byars noted. “Ever since I’ve been hurt, she’s been keeping in contact, calling, FaceTiming me like every other day. So, it’s been good. It’s nice to have someone who has been through it as an athlete, just constantly giving me encouragement.”

Byars has taken unofficial visits to Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Maryland, and Michigan and plans to schedule some official visits once her leg heals up.

Hopefully, we’ll get to see Byars rocking the blue and white in Memorial Coliseum down the road.