AJ Dybantsa continues run as No. 1 overall prospect in latest 2025 On3 150 update

On3 released its most recent update of the 2025 On3 150 rankings on Monday, and AJ Dybantsa remains atop the list. Dybantsa re-classified into the 2025 class in October and he immediately settled into the No. 1 spot for this cycle, where he has remained since.

Dybantsa, listed as a 6-foot-8 wing, recently announced he would transfer to play his senior season at Hurricane (UT) Utah Prep. He is currently one of nine five-star prospects in the updated 2025 class ranking update. He is one of eight Five-Star Plus+ prospects in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. The Five-Star Plus+ is an indicator that the player is rated as a five-star prospect across all four major recruiting websites.

In June I was at the USA Basketball U17 Training Camp. The setting of the camp had a couple of pre-approved media members along with NBA Scouts watching as they whittled down the list from 33 to the final 13. Sitting among the NBA Scouts throughout the open sessions of the Training Camp, during our conversation one scout matter-of-factly stated, “AJ Dybantsa would be the No. 1 player in this year’s draft (2024), next year’s draft (2025), and in the 2026 NBA Draft.”

This thought process has been a common sentiment among scouts over the past few months of being able to watch high school prospects play live. Another NBA scout told me in conversation, “At this stage, Dybtantsa is the best domestic prospect I’ve scouted in the past 10 years.”

After watching Dybantsa throughout the summer, in various team and camp settings, the conversation for No. 1 in this update was not a very long one. In fact, Dybantsa has continued to separate himself from his high school-aged peers and is currently in a top tier of his own within his high school class.

At On3 we have never shied away from transparency in our rankings process. At the end of the day, we are ranking toward NBA Draft night. At this point in the process, as we wrap up these players’ final summer of travel ball, having eyes firmly planted on senior seasons, Dybantsa’s attainable ceiling is simply too high to ignore. That is why he remains in a tier of his own in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

Let’s discuss the thought process behind making AJ Dybantsa On3’s No. 1 player at this point in the 2025 cycle.

Dybantsa is an alpha

This is something that showed clearly while at the USA Basketball U17 Training Camp. AJ Dybantsa was not only the vocal leader of the group, he was the one that everyone in the gym looked to. There is something to be said about a player who can step into a group of high-level, high-caliber talents and immediately be the one everyone is looking at.

You have no problem hearing Dybantsa’s voice when he is on the floor. Not only is he talkative on the defensive end, but he also is corraling his teammates in huddles and speaking up in time-outs. On the floor, Dybantsa has no problem having the ball in his hands. His skill set allows him to create offense, and he is more than fine with looking for the ball when his team needs a bucket. He defends with a purpose and he can self-create in the half-court for clean scoring looks.

While Dybantsa’s physical makeup and his skill set all play a role in this ranking, the fact that he is comfortably an alpha among alphas only enhances the profile.

Prototypical physical makeup

Positional size is big at the highest levels of today’s game. Switchability and versatility are some keywords that get thrown around a lot with NBA teams seeking players who will give them an edge. And, at its core, a lot of those abilities come with unique positional size.

AJ Dybantsa is listed between 6-foot-8 and 6-foot-9, depending on where you look. During the USA U17 Basketball Training Camp, when you lined the group up, he was one of the three tallest players invited to participate. Dybantsa’s size gives him an advantage, but so does his athletic fluidity. Dybantsa has no problem starting and stopping or quickly changing direction with the ball in his hands. This length and athleticism help him find clean looks from most levels on the court.

The small forward carries a plus wingspan and explosive pop in his athleticism. Even looking across the NBA’s standards, according to Techopedia, the average height for small forwards as of March 2024 is just under 6-foot-7. Entering his senior year in high school, Dybantsa already carries high-level positional size with coinciding length and the necessary athletic traits.

AJ Dybantsa can create an offensive advantage

So much of today’s basketball has to do with scoring the ball. Not only that but being a player who can create an advantage on the offensive end. A lot plays into this. The ability to shoot, the ability to dissect and process, and the ability to decisively get to the spots a player is most comfortable. While many players are able to do one of these things, and some can even do multiple, the truly special players are able to consistently do them all.

When you look at AJ Dybantsa, someone that we have already established carries high-level positional size, he is a player who is able to consistently create an offensive advantage on the offensive end. His height, length, and athleticism certainly help when it comes to finishing at the rim, through contact, and when stopping and popping the mid-range. At his size, he is also quick and decisive with his handle. He does not dance with the ball, he keeps his balance, gets his shoulder below his defender’s center of gravity, and gets his defender off balance with a quick first step.

The jump shot release is consistent. Even while his overall shooting numbers may not back this up, his shot load and his release are promising. He will need to continue adding to his core and base strength and finding his balance points on the move. Dybantsa had previously shown his ability to utilize footwork to get to his spots in the mid-range. This summer, he showed an array of misdirection handles to get downhill and he aggressively finished at the rim.

As a wing, Dybantsa’s ability to consistently create an offensive advantage, at each level, with the ball in his hands is looked upon fondly.

His recruitment

Just like the other eight five-star prospects in the 2025 class, AJ Dybantsa is currently uncommitted. This past week, the Five-Star Plus+ wing announced his final seven schools. Kansas State, Kansas, Auburn, Alabama, UNC, BYU, and Baylor all made the list.

Dybantsa has made two official visits to this point: Auburn and USC. Naturally, Auburn made the final group and USC did not. Dybantsa’s father has stated on the record that the plan is to commit in February and sign during the Late Signing Period.