DBU Basketball is excited to announce the signing of guard Rylen Sykes. He is the first player to sign as part of the Patriots' 2027 signing class.

Rylen Sykes is a 6'3" combo guard from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he plays at Crossings Christian High School for Coach Colby Connell. Rylen brings a high energy toughness with a commitment to do all the things needed for his team to win. He is a strong guard with an elite defensive mentality that is also versatile on the offensive end. Getting paint touches, knocking down threes, or locking down the other team's best player, Sykes's versatility makes him an excellent fit for the DBU system. As a junior at Crossings, Rylen averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals a game. Already in his career, he has been named to the GMAC All-Conference First and Second Teams and was the Edmond Open Super 5 All-Tournament team last year. His sophomore year, he helped lead Crossings to the 4A State Championship game. He is also a young man who will thrive off the court. His faith and character will be a blessing to the DBU community. Rylen played for Coach John White and AAO Flight PRO during the summer club circuit.

Coach Connell says, "Rylen has been a joy to coach. He's a super high motor kid that just makes plays that effect winning. That's something almost every coach I've talked to about Rylen has mentioned."

Coach Flickner says, "Rylen is a perfect fit for DBU and our culture. He is a super competitive guard with toughness and a winner's mentality. He has an incredible work ethic and is willing to do whatever it takes for his team."