AJ Dybantsa's father reveals how Spider-Man hoop helped him fall in love with basketball

Growing up in Massachusetts, BYU signee AJ Dybantsa didn’t always want to be a basketball player. He didn’t fall in love with the game right away.

But his father Ace got him a special gift that featured his favorite super hero, and it was off to the races. from there. It not only led Dybantsa to Tuesday’s McDonald’s All-American Game, but also paved the way for him to become the nation’s top recruit.

“Spider-Man,” Ace Dybantsa told ESPN’s Brooke Weisbrod. “I bought him a Spider-Man hoop, and he fell in love with it.”

After developing a passion for basketball, Dybantsa became the most sought-after recruit in the country. Now a star at Hurricane (UT) Utah Prep, the Five Star Plus+ forward is the No. 1 overall player from the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

As Dybantsa got ready for the McDonald’s All-American Game, though, he also went to work – not on the court, but behind the grills. He worked a shift at a McDonald’s in St. George, Utah. It was only for a couple hours, and his father said there was a reason.

“Just how to give back to the community,” Ace Dybantsa said. “I wanted to show him what it is having a good job. He spent about two hours there, I don’t think he wants to go back there.”

AJ Dybantsa put on a show in the first half of the McDonald’s All-American Game. He led all scorers as the West took a 48-40 lead into the break, and his athleticism was on full display in Monday’s Sprite Jam Fest, as well.

Dybantsa went viral for a dunk over Chicago Sky star Angel Reese. He went up and over the 6-foot-3 forward, electrifying the crowd in the process.

Dybantsa is getting ready to take his talents to BYU, which is fresh off a Sweet Sixteen appearance in this year’s NCAA Tournament. He’s also set to make NIL history with a lucrative NIL package, On3’s Pete Nakos previously reported. He’s also the consensus No. 1 prospect across all four recruiting services, which speaks to the skillset he brings to Provo.

“The No. 1 player in the 2025 class, AJ Dybantsa, showcased a powerful arsenal,” On3’s Jamie Shaw said in a scouting report in November 2024. “He has a dynamic offensive game at a lengthy 6-foot-9 and he showed a full array of scoring moves when he was playing 18 feet and in. Dybantsa has excellent footwork in the mid-post. He was able to utilize different upfakes and step-throughs to create clean opportunities for himself.”