AJ Dybantsa’s basketball journey continues to capture attention as the 17-year-old pushes boundaries in his pursuit of greatness. After spending the 2023-24 season at Prolific Prep in Napa, California, Dybantsa transitioned to Utah Prep this summer.
The Brockton, Massachusetts native has trained alongside NBA legends like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Paul George, gaining invaluable insights into professional-level preparation.
On Thursday, Swishcultures reposted a clip of Dybantsa reflecting on his summer workouts with the stars. The clip is an excerpt from his appearance on "The Youngins Sports Podcast" in October.
"Last summer was crazy. I was like, I was, I just turned 17 and it was just like getting pro knowledge, seeing how, seeing how the best players workout, it's just like, yo, like if I can do this early, like it's crazy because pro workouts are way, way different than high school workouts."
Fans were quick to react, with one remarking,
“KD, Chris Paul, Paul George, and LeBron is a wild combo to lab up with!”
"Elite company!" another quipped.
Here is how other fans expressed their reactions:
"This young man has GREAT awareness," a fan remarked.
"Yo, this is dope for his development, already soaking the game up from LEGENDS!" another quipped.
"That's tough man," a fan quipped.
"Paul George has really made an imprint in our next generation of hoopers," a fan remarked.
Dybantsa’s development is evident in his performance. Last season at Prolific Prep, he averaged 21.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
As a freshman at St. Sebastian’s in Massachusetts, AJ Dybantsa earned the 2022-23 Gatorade Player of the Year title, averaging 19 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game. His efficiency shone, with a 60.8% field goal percentage and 41% three-point shooting.
BYU lands No. 1 high school prospect AJ Dybantsa
AJ Dybantsa, the 6-foot-9 wing and top-ranked prospect in high school basketball for the Class of 2025 announced his commitment to BYU on Dec. 11. His choice came after considering offers from Alabama, North Carolina, and Kansas. He became BYU’s first five-star recruit since ESPN began its recruiting database in 2007.
"At BYU, the whole staff from the head coach on down came from the NBA," Dybantsa shared per ESPN. "Head coach Kevin Young coached my favorite player in KD [Kevin Durant] and coached Devin Booker. Both had a lot of good things to say about him. We watched clips of both."
BYU’s recruitment efforts intensified after Kevin Young became head coach last spring. Young met with AJ Dybantsa’s parents during the NBA playoffs while still part of the Phoenix Suns’ staff. The player’s visits to BYU in June and October further solidified his decision.