No. 1 ranked HS hooper AJ Dybantsa settles Kendrick Lamar vs Drake beef, reveals his Jamaican side, and more

AJ Dybantsa was in Canada recently for Grind Session Toronto, with his Utah Prep going 1-1 after that upset loss against Canadian high school, Fort Erie. During his time there, he spoke with Hiphop Hoops' Chris Blackwood about several topics.

Dybantsa was asked how he found Canada, with the consensus No. 1 overall from the class of 2025 saying that it is all good. Then, Blackwood brought up Dybantsa's Jamaican heritage, asking the small forward what his favorite Jamaican dish is: oxtail or curry goat.

"I don't even eat oxtail anymore," he answered. "So curry goat. I like oxtail a lot, but I just ate it too much as a kid."

This then led to Blackwood asking him which NBA player he really thinks he should be compared to. He has been compared to several legends, including Grant Hill, Scottie Pippen, and Tracy McGrady.

"A little bit of T-Mac and Paul George," he answered.

Earlier last summer, during Nike EYBL Peach Jam, Dybantsa had the chance to train with his idol, Paul George, and also appear on his podcast, Podcast P.

Blackwood also asked him what may be the most divisive topic in the interview: Team Drake or Team Kendrick?

"I listen to more Drake music, so Team Drake," AJ Dybantsa admitted.

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AJ Dybantsa talks about what motivates him to play well

Chris Blackwood also noted that a lot of people showed up to Utah Prep games just to watch AJ Dybantsa play. This led to him asking the No. 1 small forward what motivates him as a player.

"I mean, my family," he told Blackwood, "I'm doing it for my family and myself."

Earlier this month, Dybantsa went home to Massachusetts to spend time with family and friends after being away for a while. He also settled into his new school in Hurricane, Utah. Many of his family and friends were also present during that Utah Prep vs. Highland High School game in Boston earlier this month. The game pitted him against fellow five-star, Nate Ament.

AJ Dybantsa is one of the most sought-after players from the class of 2025. He remains uncommitted, though BYU is the favorite to land the No. 1 ranked player from the Class of 2025.

While BYU is leading the pack in the AJ Dybantsa race, the other contenders are Kansas State, Alabama, Kansas, North Carolina, Auburn, and USC. His father had previously said that his son would be making his decision in February of next year.