Ciara Byars has official visits scheduled to Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt. (Les Nicholson Photo)
George Rogers Clark senior Ciara Byars looked like being sidelined since January with a knee injury had not curbed her enthusiasm for basketball or kept her from doing all she was allowed to be ready to play when given medical clearance to do so.
“Everything’s going good. I’ve started to do more agility work. Just progressively getting better every day,” she said at the Bluegrass Cardinal Classic in Winchester.
The junior had amassed 1,615 points and 952 rebounds before a knee injury in early January sidelined her for the rest of the season. She was GRC’s leading scorer (14.1) and rebounder (5.3) again when she was injured.
She remains a top 40 prospect nationally who has official visits scheduled this fall to Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt so far.
“I have a few others I’m in contact with as well,” she said. “I think some people have dropped off in their communication since my injury and others have picked up. The injury has helped in some ways with the recruiting process, but also made it harder at the same time. Forming these different relationships, even through hard times, has been pretty cool.
“I’m a big relationship person, whether that’s in recruitment or not. Just having good relationships with coaches is really important to me.”
Byars admits it has been hard to be patient with her rehab but she also understands the need to be cautious.
“The patience is still there because I just want to do everything right and just do this the right way so another injury doesn’t occur. I think my body needed some rest anyways. I’m just gonna take my time before I come back,” she said. “The first few months were rough for sure. But just keeping a positive attitude has been the most important thing and it just carries over to hard work.”
Doctors have not given her a timetable for a likely return to the court.
“It’s really nine months for ACL recovery, but I’m also not going to be back until I feel 100 percent because it’s not fair to myself or my teammates,” she said. “So just come back when I feel ready, not only physically but also mentally.”
