2026 Recruiting: AJ Dybantsa

[Mister P]

Teammates with Joson Sanon

 

[husky429]

Teammates with Joson Sanon

View attachment 87795

I would expect him to go in 2025 FWIW. He's 2 years older than the rest of his class, which is why he has to play up in AAU.

Kid has potential to be #1 in his class if he stays 2026. Probably will be hard to beat out Boozer and Flagg in 2025. Put up ridiculous numbers in EYBL for his age. 20/6/3 on 50% shooting. 28% from 3, 88% from the line.

 

[Mister P]

 

[willie99]

So this kid is like 14?

OK

is Hurley's dad recruiting for us?

 

[TheHorde]

And Alex Karaban commented under his post telling him that this is the move.

 

[kansashusky]

He has the best shot of being our highest rated recruit ever.

 

[superjohn]

So this kid is like 14?

OK

is Hurley's dad recruiting for us?

Nope, 16 year old freshman.

 

[auror]

I would expect him to go in 2025 FWIW. He's 2 years older than the rest of his class, which is why he has to play up in AAU.

Kid has potential to be #1 in his class if he stays 2026. Probably will be hard to beat out Boozer and Flagg in 2025. Put up ridiculous numbers in EYBL for his age. 20/6/3 on 50% shooting. 28% from 3, 88% from the line.

I guess the question then is why would he do the former if the latter is true?

 

[husky429]

I guess the question then is why would he do the former if the latter is true?

If he's going to be one-and-done going earlier makes more sense. Extra year of an NBA salary.

 

[BGesus4]

He’s way too talented for many on this board to want him. He and his family probably also care about making money. No thanks!!!

 

[TheHorde]

He’s way too talented for many on this board to want him. He and his family probably also care about making money. No thanks!!!

Like the money Jordan Hawkins is about to make?

 

[Cardiac]

 

[Waquoit]

Doesn't this sound like a plan? Top programs have a plan.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I’ll never knock us for trying, but this feels like a kid with Duke/Kentucky written all over him.

 

[HooperScooper]

Saw this in an ESPN Insider's article. Sounds like his and Karaban's parents need to talk.

"My parents have made academics a priority since I was young," said Dybantsa, who won his state's Gatorade player of the year honor as a freshman.

Meet the top-ranked players in the next three recruiting classes

High school stars Tre Johnson, Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa are all at the head of the class in our new player rankings for 2024, 2025 and 2026.

www.espn.com

 

[dogpause]

I’ll never knock us for trying, but this feels like a kid with Duke/Kentucky written all over him.

Hurley might have something to say about that.

 

[HooperScooper]

From Nike EYBL yesterday.

In the class of 2026, 6-foot-8 small forward AJ Dybantsa looks like an early frontrunner for the No. 1 spot. If he isn’t No. 1 when we rank the class for the first time after the summer, he won’t be far off. While he didn’t have a great night for Expressions in a loss to Team CP3 while scoring 12 points and grabbing five rebounds, how hard he made older players work to stop him was quite notable. He’s long, he is gifted athletically (his second and third leaping ability is absurd), and he’s got a big-time ceiling.

Nike EYBL Friday: Four-star Billy Richmond goes off, underclassmen stand out and more

2024 four-star Billy Richmond and several talented underclassmen were making noise on Friday night at the EYBL in Arizona.

247sports.com

 

[WrenchFan69]

I've said this on another thread, but I watched him at the NEPSAC finals. Kid has work to do defensively and in gaining strength but he's an amazing prospect. Offensive skill is through the roof and he's very athletic. Second best player on the court that day behind Elmarko Jackson who is a 2+ year older 5* point guard.

Talked to another NEPSAC coach who made it seem like his parents want him to stay at St. Seb's which I would think could help UConn's chances but the Brewster/Montverde/IMG types will come calling this summer

 

[eos91]

I've said this on another thread, but I watched him at the NEPSAC finals. Kid has work to do defensively and in gaining strength but he's an amazing prospect. Offensive skill is through the roof and he's very athletic. Second best player on the court that day behind Elmarko Jackson who is a 2+ year older 5* point guard.

Talked to another NEPSAC coach who made it seem like his parents want him to stay at St. Seb's which I would think could help UConn's chances but the Brewster/Montverde/IMG types will come calling this summer

Word I have heard is that he will go to Brewster

 

[HooperScooper]

Another who we have to mention one more time is 2026 stud AJ Dybantsa. After some tough sledding on Friday night, the athletic 6-foot-7 wing was dynamic all weekend long. He’s crazy athletic for a rising sophomore but even more impressive is how hard he plays and how physical he's willing to despite a slender frame and the fact that he’s playing up against older players on Expressions 17U squad. He is almost impossible to keep out of the lane, is a respectable jump shooter and is also a pretty clever playmaker for others. It’s really early, but he looks like the complete package and is averaging over 20 points, six rebounds and nearly four assists per game. Alabama, Boston College, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Providence, UConn and Washington have now offered and it’s only a matter of time before everybody else jumps in.

Nike EYBL Phoenix Weekend Recap: Arizona bound Jamari Phillips goes off, battle for No. 1 in 2024 and more

The Phoenix stop of Nike's EYBL was loaded with talent and Arizona bound Jamari Phillips put on a scoring clinic.

247sports.com

 

[husky429]

Another who we have to mention one more time is 2026 stud AJ Dybantsa. After some tough sledding on Friday night, the athletic 6-foot-7 wing was dynamic all weekend long. He’s crazy athletic for a rising sophomore but even more impressive is how hard he plays and how physical he's willing to despite a slender frame and the fact that he’s playing up against older players on Expressions 17U squad. He is almost impossible to keep out of the lane, is a respectable jump shooter and is also a pretty clever playmaker for others. It’s really early, but he looks like the complete package and is averaging over 20 points, six rebounds and nearly four assists per game. Alabama, Boston College, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Providence, UConn and Washington have now offered and it’s only a matter of time before everybody else jumps in.

Nike EYBL Phoenix Weekend Recap: Arizona bound Jamari Phillips goes off, battle for No. 1 in 2024 and more

The Phoenix stop of Nike's EYBL was loaded with talent and Arizona bound Jamari Phillips put on a scoring clinic.

247sports.com

Kid is stupidly talented. Love that we're putting in the work with him and Joson Sanon early.

 

[HooperScooper]

Being that home is special to him, Dybantsa is also considering playing at home in the Northeast in college.

“It’s definitely a consideration [to stay home in the Northeast]. I don’t have any specific schools I want to go to but, it’s definitely a consideration,” said Dybantsa

One school that may be hard to turn down is UConn, as they recently offered Dybantsa.

“[It’s] exciting, I know that they just won a national championship, so it’s a blessing. Any offer is really a blessing,” said Dybantsa.

Is Connecticut in the Northeast?

Class of 2026 star AJ Dybantsa wants to put Brockton, Mass. (back) on the map | Zagsblog

By MATT WHITFIELD COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — […]

www.zagsblog.com

 

[TheHorde]

Being that home is special to him, Dybantsa is also considering playing at home in the Northeast in college.

“It’s definitely a consideration [to stay home in the Northeast]. I don’t have any specific schools I want to go to but, it’s definitely a consideration,” said Dybantsa

One school that may be hard to turn down is UConn, as they recently offered Dybantsa.

“[It’s] exciting, I know that they just won a national championship, so it’s a blessing. Any offer is really a blessing,” said Dybantsa.

Is Connecticut in the Northeast?

Class of 2026 star AJ Dybantsa wants to put Brockton, Mass. (back) on the map | Zagsblog

By MATT WHITFIELD COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — […]

www.zagsblog.com

But but but I was reliably informed by so many that a local school is not a selling point.

 

[HooperScooper]

The guy: 2026 SF AJ Dybantsa​

When looking through this roster, as things went from 39 to 18, and now they are competing for the final 12, one thing has been a constant; AJ Dybantsa has the highest upside of the players in attendance. Already standing 6-foot-8, the wing has very fluid athleticism with a natural burst.

Dybantsa has shown the full scoring arsenal throughout camp. The jump shot is smooth, and the mechanics are consistent. The footwork in the mid-range is advanced, both when establishing space in the mid-post and with one/two dribble pull-ups. In a gym that has numerous future first-round picks, Dybantsa continues to be the one that turns heads.

USA Basketball u16 Training Camp Superlatives

After a few days spent at USA Basketball u16 Training Camp it is now time to hand out superlatives from Colorado Springs.

www.on3.com

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

But but but I was reliably informed by so many that a local school is not a selling point.

Keep doing this. You’re definitely not carving out a reputation as an annoying voice that needs to be set to ignore.