Michigan has added its third top-100 recruit for the 2025 class. Ciara Byars, a 6-foot-2 forward from Winchester, Kentucky, committed to the Michigan women’s basketball program on Wednesday.
She is ranked No. 63 in the class according to ESPN, a four-star prospect. Byars joins guards McKenzie Mathurin (No. 37) and Jessica Fields (99) as part of Michigan’s 2025 class.
Michigan head coach Kim Barnes touched on recruiting last week. “We haven’t had signing day, so I can’t comment on all the things that are happening in our world right now, but there are a lot of really good things happening in our world right now.”
Barnes Arico brought in a top-10 class this year, headlined by two McDonald’s All-Americans, and she’s off to a good start for next year. Even in the transfer portal era, she still wants to build her program through high school recruiting.
Byars chose Michigan over a group of finalists that included Maryland, Louisville, Mississippi State, and Cal, among others.
She spoke to 247Sports about her decision. “They’ve been so consistent in recruiting me through everything by showing up and supporting me,” she said about Michigan. She visited campus twice and spent time with the current Wolverines. She said coaches appreciated her versatility and leadership skills.
Michigan has an exhibition on Sunday and opens the regular season on Nov. 4 against No. 1 South Carolina in Las Vegas.
