NORMAN — Dayton Forsythe told himself he would take his time.

The three-star guard finished his junior season at Dale High School in dominant fashion. He averaged 17.1 points and six assists while leading the undefeated Pirates to a Class 2A state championship.

Forsythe received offers from schools such as OU, OSU and Villanova. Still, he told himself he’d wait until the end of the summer to make a decision in case some new offers came in.

But as Forsythe talked things over with his family on Wednesday, he came to a realization.

“Dad, I don’t really know what I’m waiting on,” Forsythe told his father, Josh. “I’m ready to commit to OU.”

More: OU men's basketball: Tracking the Sooners' arrivals, departures via the transfer portal

So Forsythe did exactly that.

Forsythe announced his commitment to OU on Thursday. The 6-foot-2 guard is ranked as the top prospect in the state of Oklahoma, and he’s the Sooners’ first 2024 commit.

It’s a moment that’s years in the making for Forsythe, who always wanted to one day play in an OU jersey.

“It’s been something that I’ve dreamed of doing since I was a little kid,” Forsythe said. “I’m glad I know, 100 percent, that I made the right decision for me. … It was a no brainer.”

Forsythe’s love for the Sooners dates back to his childhood.

The lifelong Oklahoman often went to OU games. He remembers watching players such as Buddy Hield and Trae Young put on a show in front of packed crowds at Lloyd Noble Center.

“Guys like that are who I used to dream of being like,” Forsythe said. “Seeing them play (in front of) all the fans, as a kid, I dreamed of doing that.”

Forsythe’s dream became a real possibility in December.

The Dale standout was scheduled to go on an unofficial visit to OU with his family, but head coach Porter Moser asked them to come early and stop by his office.

It’s there that Moser offered Forsythe a scholarship.

“I was super excited,” Forsythe said. “I was ecstatic. Me and my family, all of us were jumping off the walls.”

More: OU men's and women's basketball teams announce 2023-24 Big 12 opponents

Forsythe picked up another nine scholarships throughout the next six months, but none of them were tempting enough to prevent him from choosing OU.

That wasn’t much of a surprise for Forsythe’s father.

“We threw OU gear on him when he was little,” Josh Forsythe said. “He went to some OU practices, some football games and some basketball games. He kind of grew up that way and grew up dreaming of playing for them.”

Forsythe is expected to do a little bit of everything for the Sooners.

The guard is capable of scoring from all over the floor, although he’s quick to dish the ball to an open teammate. He's also a gritty defender with a good motor.

And most importantly, Forsythe is an in-state product who's eager to represent OU basketball.

“We really looked for somewhere he can call home for four or five years,” Josh Forsythe said. “We don’t want any part of that portal and bouncing around. He felt like (OU) was home.”

After dreaming about playing in an OU jersey for years, Forsythe will get to do exactly that following the conclusion of his senior season at Dale.

And once Forsythe arrives in Norman, he has big plans for the future of the program.

“They’re going to get a super high-character guy who’ll work his tail off for his home state,” Forsythe said. “I’m trying to get OU basketball to where I believe it can be. … It’s going to be exciting.”

More: Which players have committed to OU men's basketball's 2024 recruiting class?

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU basketball: Why Dale's Dayton Forsythe committed to Sooners