America’s best high school basketball player AJ Dybantsa makes college commitment
AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 high school basketball recruit in the country, has announced he is transferring to Brigham Young University with a shocking commitment.
Dybantsa, a native of Brockton, Massachusetts, announced the decision on ESPN’s “First Take” Tuesday morning.
He had also considered offers from Kansas, North Carolina and Alabama.
According to 247Sports, Dybantsa is the highest-rated recruit in the history of BYU’s basketball program — which, unlike the other three schools he considered, has never reached the Final Four.
NJ.com college basketball insider Adam Zagoria reported that Dybantsa would make NIL money in the range of $7 million.
If that number is true, he said, he would be the highest-paid college athlete in the country On3’s NIL database. When compared to the average annual value of the current class of NBA rookies, Dybantsa’s $7 million NIL deal would make him the eighth-highest paid rookie – behind Rob Dillingham of the Minnesota Timberwolves and ahead of Zach Edey of the Memphis Grizzlies.
AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 recruit in high school basketball, committed to BYU on Tuesday
Dybantsa chose BYU over traditional basketball powerhouses like Kansas and North Carolina
At 6-foot-1, Dybantsa is one of the most sought-after recruits in the country
At First Take, Dybantsa stated that his goal was to win a national championship while at BYU.
“A lot stood out during my visit,” Dybantsa said shortly after his engagement became official. “Obviously coach Kevin Young is there. My ultimate goal is to go to the NBA and he has coached my favorite player of all time: Kevin Durant.”
Dybantsa added that he was impressed with BYU’s staff, which he said was full of NBA experience: “I’m trying to get to the NBA and I think this will be the best development program for me.”
BYU is currently in the midst of its first season under coach Kevin Young after previous head coach Mark Pope accepted the job at Kentucky.
Listed as a 6-foot-1 small forward, Dybantsa played for prep schools in Massachusetts, California and Utah.
Last year he was reclassified from the Class of 2026 to the Class of 2025.
While BYU, Kansas, North Carolina and Alabama were considered the finalists to land him, Dybantsa had received offers from 29 schools, including basketball powerhouses like Baylor, UConn and Duke.
In the summer of 2023, Dybantsa was a star on Team USA as they won gold in the FIBA Under-16 AmeriCup.