AJ Dybantsa recruiting update: No. 1 recruit of the 2025 class lines up official visits as commitment date approaches

AJ Dybantsa, the top-ranked prospect for the 2025 class, is set to embark on a series of official visits to some of the nation's premier basketball programs. Between Aug. 30 and Oct. 13, the 6-foot-8, 185-pound forward will visit Kansas State, Kansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Baylor and BYU.

Dybantsa's meteoric rise in the rankings came after he reclassified into the 2025 class last October, immediately earning the No. 1 spot. Since then, he has maintained his position as the top recruit. According to On3’s Jamie Shaw:

"At this stage, Dybantsa is the best domestic prospect I’ve scouted in the past 10 years. 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."

Dybantsa's recruitment has gained momentum, particularly with BYU, where he plans to visit from Oct. 11 to 13. This visit coincides with a high-profile football game where BYU will face Arizona, ranked No. 21 in the country. Notably, BYU and Auburn are the only schools he has visited unofficially.

Despite the visits, a final decision is not expected until February 2025. Dybantsa emphasized the importance of building a genuine relationship with a coach who can offer honest guidance both on and off the court.

“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 told ESPN

While name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities are part of the equation, AJ Dybantsa's father, Ace, insists that they are not the primary factor.

“It’s a factor, but it’s not the reason we are picking a school,” Ace Dybantsa told ESPN. “We left out schools that have a lot of money. A.J. will go where he feels he can have the most success on the court.”

AJ Dybantsa aims for a Hall-of-Fame career while influencing the next generation

Dybantsa has set his sights on becoming a Hall of Famer.

“I want to be a Hall of Famer,” he told On3. “(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.”

Beyond personal success, Dybantsa aspires to be a role model for the next generation.

“I want to be a good influence for kids,” he said. “It’ll be fun seeing the next generation of long, athletic wings trying to model their games after me.”

Dybantsa transferred from Prolific Prep in Napa, CA, to Utah Prep in Hurricane, UT. While some speculated that his move signaled a lean toward BYU, where he has taken an unofficial visit, his father dismissed these assumptions.

“People assumed the same when we were in California about USC. It doesn’t really matter to us,” Ace Dybantsa clarified.

The small forward's performances have been outstanding, particularly at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup, where he averaged 14.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. His efficiency shone with a 58.7 field-goal percentage and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc, and he had a 23-point game against Mexico.