"The No. 1 spot is his to lose": Anonymous NBA scouts high on AJ Dybantsa's NBA draft stock after Peach Jam heroics

AJ Dybantsa is ranked the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2025. The small forward has been overly impressive at the high school level and has also made giant strides while representing the United States. That has made him a coveted prospect for several programs.

While he's still in high school, AJ Dybantsa has been projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. A host of NBA scouts had a good review about him when questioned about a couple of players in his class during the Summer League.

One of them expressed his confidence that he's going No. 1 in 2026 due to his superb abilities.

"The No. 1 spot is his to lose," an anonymous NBA scout said. "If you have the No. 1 pick, you cannot leave him on the board. He has the highest upside."

According to ESPN’s Paul Biancardi, NBA scouts at the Summer League agreed that Dybantsa is a frontrunner for the top pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

---

AJ Dybantsa college basketball recruitment process

Offers have been rolling in for AJ Dybantsa from several college basketball programs across the United States. His astonishing performances have garnered the attention of many of them, and landing him has become a heck of a competition.

In situations like this, where many teams are lobbying for commitment, players often have a tough time making the decision they feel is the best. However, that isn't the case for Dybantsa, as his father handles a lot on his behalf regarding his recruitment.

"It's not hard for me because I don't talk to any coaches," Dybantsa said regarding his recruitment process. "My dad talks to all the coaches, so they're not blowing up my phone or bugging me."

The forward has offers from the likes of Kentucky, UConn, Alabama, Auburn, Duke, North Carolina and others. He has visited Auburn and USC, while many others are pushing for a visit.

---

AJ Dybantsa's Hall of Fame dream

With his NBA career a few years ahead of him, AJ Dybantsa has a big dream for his professional career. The small forward dreams of being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

“(I want to be) a Hall of Famer,” Dybantsa said when asked about his biggest dream. “(To do that, I’ve got to) just keep doing what I’m doing, but at a better rate every time. Every year I’ve got to improve from the last.”

Dybantsa has the talent to achieve that rare honor. Nonetheless, he has to stay focused and maintain an amazing level of consistency. Going into his senior season in high school basketball, there's obviously a lot of room for development.