A.J. Dybantsa, the consensus top basketball player in the class of 2025, cut down his college wish list to seven on Friday. Dybantsa told Paul Biancardi of ESPN that he is considering Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, BYU, Kansas, Kansas State, and North Carolina. That means the 6-8 wing is no longer considering UConn, Duke, Michigan, Arkansas, and Kentucky among the 23 programs he is no longer considering.
So, why did Dybantsa decide on the seven schools he has narrowed his choice down to?
“The list is based on the coaches who spoke with my dad the most. I will decide in February.”
No. 1 College Basketball Prospects Leaves Out A Host Of Top Programs As He Trims List, Where Will He End Up?
Dybantsa is a 17-year-old forward who grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts. Dybantsa was named the 2022-23 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year following his freshman season at St. Sebastian. Following his freshman campaign. ESPN named him the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2026. Alabama, Providence, and Michigan were the first programs to offer Dybantsa on June 24, 2023.
Dybantsa played last season (junior year after reclassifying to 2025 at Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.)), earning second-team MaxPreps All-America honors with averages of 21.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He will team up with JJ Mandaquit, one of the top point guards in the class of 2025, at Utah Prep for his senior campaign.
In July 2023, On3 named Dybantsa the top high school player in the country regardless of class. Dybantsa announced last October that he would reclassify to 2025. The consensus five-star recruit is ranked No. 1 in the class by all four scouting services and has a 99.74 overall grade.
In addition to his high school accolades, Dybantsa had a dominant EYBL campaign. He scored 22.6 points a game, with an incredible 197 points coming in transition, while shooting 38% from the 3-point line on catch-and-shoot situations and 82% from the charity stripe.
Additionally, Dybantsa has played the last two summers with USA Basketball, winning a gold medal with the U16 team last summer and U17 FIBA gold this past summer. Dybantsa compiled 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals in 20 minutes over seven FIBA appearances this summer. He made 1.0 3-pointers a game while compiling a shooting slash line of 58.7%/31.8%/69.2%. He scored in double-figures in six of his seven games, scoring 18 or 19 points on three occasions.
Here is what 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein had to say about Dybantsa’s game and potential:
A 6-foot-9 jumbo wing with a wingspan exceeding 7 feet, an emerging 200-plus-pound frame and an advanced understanding of how to score from his spots (even in a half-court game), AJ Dybantsa is the best prospect in high school basketball.
Dybantsa possesses a lethal pull-up game with a high release and a smooth ball rotation. He’s been a celebrated prospect since before he entered high school. Yet he has avoided the pitfalls of early stardom by consistently improving his game at each level. He was the leading scorer in the 2023 Peach Jam as an underclassman and shows flashes of untapped potential on defense thanks to his size and movement skills.
The bottom line is this: Dybantsa controls his own future. If he continues on his current path, then there’s no one in high school basketball with more potential than him.
Ranking Dybantsa’s 7 Schools
“I’m looking to build a relationship with a head coach who doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but we can still have that bond both on and off the court,” Dybantsa told Biancardi what he was looking for in a school. “[We can] talk about things on and off the court and play to my strengths while helping me with my weaknesses. These are the pillars that will define my choice for a program,” Dybantsa said. “[It needs to be] family-oriented, a winning program, offer development both on the court and in their strength program, and for me to be one-and-done and ready to impact.”
However, Dybantsa’s father, Anicet “Ace” Dybantsa, A.J.’s father, added that NIL money will also be considered. He is projected to get over $620k in NIL money.
“It’s a factor, but it’s not the reason we are picking a school. We left out schools that have a lot of money. A.J. will go where he feels he can have the most success on the court.”
Dybansta has taken just three college visits thus far though he said s he plans to make official visits to the rest of the schools on his list ahead of his college decision.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama was among the first schools to officially over Dybansta. He has a relationship with Crimson Tide assistant Preston Murphy, who coached Dybansta with the Expressions in the EYBL during his freshman campaign.
“I’ve had contact with Alabama,” Dybantsa told BamaOnLine. “I actually know Coach Preston [Murphy]. He coached me at EYBL. So, I’m close with them. They just recently had Brandon Miller. I feel like we play similar. So, it will be in consideration. “They play freely. That’s the main thing, really.”
“I know a lot about [Murphy] him, but I don’t know a lot about the school. I’ve talked to Nate Oats when I got the offer. They had a good run. Two of my teammates from Prolific (Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherrell) went there, so they obviously think its good, so we’ll see.”
Dybantsa’s father told BamaOnline he speaks to Murphy and Oats.
They let me know they want AJ. They’re really trying,” Mr. Dybantsa said. “Preston Murphy coached him in AAU. They say how much Alabama will be a good fit for him. AJ reminds them of Brandon Miller, the same style of play.”
“Pretty much the same message as my man, Preston,” Mr. Dybantsa said of Oats’ message. “They’re a pretty good program.”
2. Auburn Tigers
Dybansta visited Auburn officially on March 1. The Tigers offered him a scholarship at the end of last August.
I took an official visit there in March. After my visit, they think I can be compared to Jabari Smith and Isaac Okoro. “I’d play the wing or two role in college and that’s what they did, so that’s a good comparison.”
Dybansta’s father added, “Bruce Pearl is from Sharon, Mass. It’s 15 minutes away from where we live in Brockton. We like his style. We went to a game during break. There were no students on campus, and the game was sold out. We like the vibes. Coach Pearl is a no-nonsense guy.”
3. North Carolina Tar Heels
UNC offered Dybansta on Oct. 25.
“Great track record of bringing in guys with my playing style in the NBA. It was an easy choice to visit. Obviously, my goal is to be in the NBA. They have had guys with a track record of play like my position [that] went one-and-done. Of course, they had Michael Jordan and coach Roy Williams was coaching there before coach Hubert Davis. I see Kenny the Jet [Smith] at the EYBL game, and he keeps yelling “Carolina Blue.” I spoke with Coach Davis a few times. He is a cool dude. He has been part of sending guys to the NBA.”
4. Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas offered Dybantsa on Jan. 26.
“When I look at their history, they also have a track record of guys in my position in the NBA. I talked to Bill Self and coach Kurtis Townsend. Coach Townsend has come to Prolific Prep a few times. They had Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre and Josh Jackson. They have had great runs of success. They say it’s loud in there [at Phog Allen Fieldhouse].”
5. BYU Cougars
BYU is one of the latest schools to “get in on” Dybansta, as they offered him on May 31. Dybansta took an unofficial visit to Provo on June 3.
“My BYU unofficial was good,” Dybantsa told Eric Bossi of 247Sports. “I was already in Utah, so I might as well take that visit since it’s right up the street. On the visit, coach Kevin Young went through a brief vision of what he sees me as. He told me about his NBA background and some of the guys he’s coached and thinks I play similarly. He said if I were to go on an official, he’ll go deeper into context.”
6. Baylor Bears
Baylor offered Dybansta on October 28.
“They believe I can have as good of a season or better than Ja’Kobe Walter. The play style is similar. Scott Drew came to Prolific Prep. I watched Baylor growing up. They had great success with Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell and recently Keyonte George.“
7. Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State is one of the last teams to offer Dybansta, making the overture on June 15.
“I talked with Jerome Tang,” Dybansta told Biancardi. He told me his guys play with a lot of freedom, but it’s also in a system that is geared toward winning. ”
“Tang went to Istanbul, Turkey, to see A.J,” Dybansta’s father added. “I like the fact he understands A.J. is a good decision-maker, an extension of the coaching staff. He will allow A.J. to play to his strength. I have a good feel for people, and I trust Coach Tang.”
Projecting Where Dybantsa Will End Up
There is still a lot of time and things he needs to figure out. However, Alabama and Auburn seem to have a slight advantage in the early going.
Joe Tipton of On3 believes BYU is a major factor in the recruiting race. He picked the Cougars to win the recruiting battle, though he set his confidence level at 25%.
