OSU basketball: Cowboys lose out on coveted recruit

DeMatha junior Jairus Lyles, left, tries to steal the ball from Gonzaga's Nate Britt. Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Shaka Smart’s rapidly ascending VCU program has taken the NCAA by storm. And now, it’s growing ripples have reached Stillwater.

Jairus Lyles, a highly coveted 2013 shooting guard from Hyattsville, Md., committed to the Rams on Sunday, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Lyles had plenty of interest across the country, but a standing offer and mutual interest from Oklahoma State, one of the schools considered to be the favorite to land him.

It’s not a huge loss for Travis Ford, who has put together back-to-back solid classes, but it was one of his top targets in the 2013 group.

Still number one on Ford’s list is five-star California guard Isaac Hamilton, considered to be one of the top recruits in the nation.

Additionally, Scout reports that OSU is interested in Booker T. guard Juwan Parker, Edmond Memorial guard Jordan Woodard and Texas guard Kendal Harris.

It’s still very early in the process, with signing day Nov. 18, but OSU has already lost out on one of its main targets.

Here’s Jairus Lyles’ Rivals recruiting page.