Top 2025 basketball prospect AJ Dybantsa narrows choices to 7 elite schools as he eyes future success

AJ Dybantsa announced his top seven schools on Friday as he prepares for his final high school season. The 2025 class' No. 1 prospect has included Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, BYU, Kansas, Kansas State and North Carolina in his final list.

The 6-foot-9, 205-pound wing is coming off an impressive run in the EYBL circuit this summer where he averaged 22.6 points and shot 82% from the floor, including 38% from deep. AJ Dybantsa led his team, Oakland Soldiers, to the Peach Jam final, but they lost 71-62 to Cameron Boozer-led Nightrydas Elite.

Talking to ESPN, AJ Dybantsa shared his criteria for picking a school and cited the coach as a primary reason.

"I'm looking to build a relationship with a head coach who doesn't sugarcoat anything, but we can still have that bond both on and off the court," he said. "[We can] talk about things on and off the court and play to my strengths while helping me with my weaknesses.

He also revealed the deadline for his final list, saying:

"The list is based on the coaches who spoke with my dad the most. I will decide in February."

AJ Dybantsa was originally a 2026 recruit but chose to reclassify to the 2025 class. After two years with St. Sebastian’s School (Massachusetts) and Prolific Prep (California), he is set to play his final college season with Utah Prep.

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AJ Dybantsa was revealed to be one of the biggest draws in circuit basketball

The circuit basketball tournaments from spring through summer saw many big-name coaches make their presence felt on the courts. An NBA scout revealed in an interview with Yahoo Sports that AJ Dybantsa was one of the reasons scouts and coaches descended to the Peach Jam Final, in particular.

"There's a reason why this event is a priority for us during the summer," he said. "Dybantsa, Boozer and Stokes are projected top players in the respective draft classes for a reason and watching their development at this level and what their upside is, is pretty exciting and has teams collecting draft picks for their class."

For AJ Dybantsa, the upcoming season is a crucial one to further establish his dominance as the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 NBA draft. He is set to travel with his Utah Prep teammates to Shanghai, China, to participate in an event hosted by the Shanghai Sharks. They will play against teams from Serbia, Japan and Australia from Aug. 6 to 11.

Where do you think AJ Dybantsa should go to? Let us know in the comments section below.