AJ Dybantsa Reclassifies and Moves Into the No. 1 Spot in 2025 - A Breakdown

On Wednesday, news came out that 2026’s No. 1 prospect, AJ Dybantsa, will reclassify into the 2025 class. Upon this move, Dybantsa will remain the No. 1 player in his class as he moves into the top spot in 2025.

Dybantsa is a 6-foot-8 wing who is originally from Massachusetts and is playing his prep ball at Napa (CA) Prolific Prep. After Peach Jam in July, On3 called him the No. 1 prospect in high school basketball.

Let’s discuss why Dybantsa remains the No. 1 prospect in his class.

Who is AJ Dybantsa

AJ Dybantsa is a smooth, offensively gifted player. His natural skill and ability. Even from my first viewing of him in middle school, Dybantsa had a unique offensive feel. At a young age, his ability to dissect and make a read within the flow of the play was impressive.

Dybantsa has a natural form on his jump shot. In the game, things can get a bit rushed, and he loses his base at times — knocking his form off balance. He will need to continue to strengthen his core and develop his footwork beyond the arc. However, he is making strides here, as his footwork is very clean. Outside of the positive markers in his shooting form, Dybantsa shot 85.7% from the free throw line this summer, showing his touch. 

Dybantsa played up two age groups this summer in the 17U Division of Nike’s EYBL Circuit. His 17.1 points finished the regular season in the top 20 on the Nike EYBL Circuit. He turned things up a notch during Peach Jam, where Dybantsa led all players in scoring at 25.8 points — over 4.5 points more than the second person. In total, he averaged 20.6 points and shot 50.4% from the field.

The five-star has a comfortable mid-post game. He has an array of jab steps that get his defender off balance and allow him clean looks from 12 to 18 feet. The footwork for Dybantsa is developing, becoming more and more natural. While he can attack the basket and finish at the rim, he is also able to pull up off two or three dribbles to knock down a shot.  

Dybantsa played 19 minutes per game on this summer’s USA Basketball U16 team. The 6-foot-8 wing averaged 13.7 points on 61.7% shooting from the field. The dynamic of this team was fast, so a lot of his points came in transition and with finishes at the rim. However, he was able to show an ability to create in the half-court, especially in the mid-range. During this event, he also averaged 3.8 assists to only 1.2 turnovers per game. 

This and That in His Words

“I’m a playmaker first,” Dybantsa said. “I can get to the rim, do a little bit of everything on offense, whatever the coach needs me to do. I watch a lot of two-way guys in the league, like Paul George and Jayson Tatum. Long, athletic guys who have a versatile game.”

“I want to go to a school that has a family atmosphere and a winning culture,” Dybantsa said. “When I go to school, the goal is to win March Madness. So, a family atmosphere, a winning culture, and a program that can get me to the next level, which is the NBA for me. That is the goal.”

“Right now, college is my main option; that is the process we are going through, Dybantsa said. “But, the G-League and Overseas will be something we definitely talk about as an option.”