"It's too much Kobe in them" - Hoops fans react as No. 1 ranked AJ Dybantsa's Utah Prep outplayed by No. 3 ranked Darryn Peterson's Prolific Prep

Basketball fans were treated to a big showdown on Sunday as Utah Prep and AJ Dybantsa, the consensus No. 1-ranked prospect in the Class of 2025, with No. 3-ranked Darryn Peterson of Prolific Prep. The Grind Session circuit game lived up to the hype, with Peterson's Prolific Prep narrowly defeating Utah Prep, 76-70.

Peterson, the 6-foot-6 Kansas signee, put up an incredibly clinical performance with an incredible stat line of 32 points, ten rebounds, and eight assists. Dybantsa was equally impressive in the loss, recording 28 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals.

The clash of the two elite prospects left fans buzzing, not only about their performances but also about the unique styles each brought to the court.

Darryn Peterson's dominance sparked comparisons to NBA legends and current stars alike, with fans flooding social media to share their thoughts:

"Peterson is a pro already, literally. It's too much Kobe in them," one fan said.

"Peterson is nice, reminds me of Ant Edwards with his movements excluding the dunks," another commented.

"Looks like Peterson won the matchup. Great hoops though." another fan said.

While Peterson appears to have gotten fans' attention, AJ Dybantsa's silky-smooth offensive game also earned its share of admiration:

"This AJ dude's offense is smooth AF. He looks like he's not even trying. His mid-range shot seems second nature too," one fan noted.

"AJ's game is so smooth. He reminds me of some old-school players, just more athletic, and that mid-range is 👌🏾🔥," another added.

"AJ is league ready," another fan proclaimed about Dybantsa's NBA prospects.

Hoops fans react as No. 1 ranked AJ Dybantsa's Utah Prep outplayed by No.3 ranked Darryn Peterson's Prolific Prep. (Image via Instagram @bleacherreport)

The loss dropped Utah Prep's record to 8-4. Dybantsa and co. will be hoping to bounce back against Duncanville this Saturday, December 14. Prolific Prep, on the other hand, improved its record to 9-3 with the win. That was their last match of the year, so they'll have some time to savor their victory before facing Highland in mid-January.

AJ Dybantsa set to make college decision on First Take

AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 prospect of the 2025 recruiting class, has narrowed down his college options to four programs: North Carolina, BYU, Alabama, and Kansas.

The Utah Prep star is set to announce which of those schools he will commit to on ESPN's First Take with Stephen A. Smith on Tuesday. The show put out an Instagram post about the event on Monday.

Recruitment odds currently favor BYU with a 69.2% likelihood, as per On3's recruitment prediction machine. Kansas follows with a 13.2% chance, while Alabama and North Carolina trail at 7.0% and 2.2%, respectively.

Kansas Jayhawks fans are particularly hopeful, as Darryn Peterson, another top recruit, has already signed on to their program. This raises the intriguing possibility of Dybantsa and Peterson joining forces to form a dynamic duo in the 2025-26 season.