PHILADELPHIA – Cabrini University senior and men's basketball standout Ryan Byars became the sixth Cavaliers player to sign a professional contract as he signed with the Philly Thunder of the American Basketball Association for the 2023-24 season set to begin in November. 
 
The ABA announced that the Philly Thunder has been added to its record-setting expansion for the next season. "We are very excited about this team and its ownership," stated ABA CEO Joe Newman.
 
Byars's journey to the Philly Thunder and the ABA began at the first game of the 2022-23 season as the Cavaliers topped Rutgers-Camden University 72-63 back on Nov. 9 inside Nerney Field House. Philly Thunder head coach Barry J.T. Devine saw Byars's talents on display against the Scarlet Raptors and knew he had what it took to become a professional player. 
 
The 6-1 guard was invited to a 30-player tryout with the first day involving combine-type drills. Byars was asked to return for the next two tryouts where he worked on basketball IQ and participated in five-on-five, full-court competitions. The ABA scouts pulled Byars and fourth other players aside and informed them that two players would be chosen out of this group. "A couple weeks later, I got the call to come sign," said Byars of his opportunity to play professionally. The Baltimore native signed his contract at the beginning of April and is set to finalize his signing bonus and salary later this month. 
 
Byars finished his senior season and final year of collegiate eligibility with a first-time selection to the All-Conference team. He was Cabrini's third-leading scorer with 11.4 points per game and finished second in rebounding with 5.8 boards. Byars finished the season as one of two Cabrini players to score in double figures in the Cavaliers final nine games of the season, averaging 16.0 points per game over that stretch. 
 
"I'm so proud of everything Ryan has accomplished on and off the court. I'm not surprised at all because he has always put in the hard work to get better.," said Cabrini Associate Head Coach Kevin Murray. "The first time I met him four years ago, he was in the gym working out and every time I did extra workouts he was always there. Ryan has an excellent work ethic and is one of the most determined players I have coached in the last 23 years," Murray continued. "I'm confident that he will be successful at the next level in the ABA."
 
Byars is excited for his new opportunity but knows making the jump from the collegiate level means heightened physicality, heightened competition, and even new rules such as a four-point line. "From the tryouts, it's a lot more physical than college so I'll be working with our strength and conditioning coach a ton this summer," said Byars of the league's physical requirements.
 
"Our goal as a new and upcoming team is to get noticed. We don't want to come into the league and get embarrassed," stated Byars on the team's goals for the upcoming year. "We want to come in and make an immediate impact not only on the court, but in Philly too."
 
The season runs from November to April with tickets on sale throughout the summer months. The 2023-24 playoffs will be held in Atlanta with the ABA Championship held in Hawaii.