"Hall of Famer in NBA": When Brockton superstar AJ Dybantsa revealed his biggest dream going into the pro league

Five-star prospect AJ Dybantsa is a basketball star in the high school basketball circuit, boasting an outstanding first rank as a small forward in Utah as well as nationally. On Dec. 10, he committed to BYU and joined the Cougars' roster.

On June 17, 2023, in a YouTube video posted by CBS Boston, the star spoke about his NBA dream, envisioning his future as "the Hall of Famer in NBA."

The reporter asked Dybantsa about his dream so far.

"Hall of Famer, NBA."

Dybantsa's skills developing coach, Brendon Ball, who has been mentoring him since 2008, credited Dybantsa's achievements to his consistency and work ethic.

"His (AJ's) God-given ability and his awareness to work and do things aver and over," Ball said.

On Monday, in a report published by The Athletic, Dybantsa again reiterated his NBA dream:

“I’m trying to make it to the NBA, so wherever they can get me the fastest there with the best development, there’s a whole lot of pillars that come with it. Money’s going to come if I do the work, so I’m not worried about the money in a year.”

The time when AJ Dybantsa was benched

On Monday, in an interview with AJ Dybantsa's father, Ace, he recalled one of his favorite stories when he asked the coach to bench his son. In sixth grade, AJ did not make the honor roll, letting down his parent's expectations. As a result, Ace tried to punish him by taking him to New Jersey for a tournament but forbade AJ from playing in the game.

Dybantsa also opened up about his views on professional basketball per The Athletic's report.

"Basketball was funner when there was nothing going on when we were all 10 years old,” Dybantsa said. “Nobody got skill, everybody’s the same....But now people judge you for who you are. The same people who hate on you are the same people in the stands trying to ask for a picture."

Dybantsa also talked about his work ethic on the court.

"My mindset will never be just scoring. I’m always going to pass. There’s never going to be a game where I have zero assists. I like making sure that everybody eats," AJ said.

Dybantsa boasts a NIL valuation of $3.8 million, befitting for the No. 1 athlete in the high school basketball NIL ranking. He also holds the fifth position in the NIL 100 club and has deals with brands like Nike and Redbull.