WATCH: High school stars AJ Dybantsa and Tyran Stokes lead the Soldiers to 73-65 win against UPlay

In a gripping high school basketball showdown, standout athletes AJ Dybantsa and Tyran Stokes powered their team, the Soldiers, to a thrilling 73-65 victory over the UPlay squad, securing a perfect 3-0 record at Peach Jam. Dybantsa and Stokes were instrumental in the win, contributing a combined 40 points.

Dybantsa, showcasing his dominance with rim-shaking dunks, tallied 23 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Stokes, known for his crafty ball-handling, added 17 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists.

The Soldiers' well-rounded offensive strategy and formidable defense overwhelmed UPlay throughout the game.

"It’s kind of like inspiring to watch them play. It kind of makes you want to work on your game and get better," remarked Bobby Blackwell, a Westside state champion.

Blackwell further praised the duo, saying:

"They’re very amazing to watch. Tyran gets anything he wants. AJ gets anything he wants. They’re very hard to stop. It’s kind of like child’s play almost, because they’re so powerful and strong, they get over the defenders."

Last year, Dybantsa was the leading scorer at Peach Jam, and Stokes is not far behind. Blackwell added:

"The work they put in, and I mean, they’re such good players. The energy they bring to the game. It’s just, you know, it’s like shell-shocking kind of."

AJ Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 small forward and the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2025, is highly sought after by top college programs. He will spend his senior year at Utah Prep and has already visited Auburn, BYU and USC (previous coaching staff). Schools like Kentucky, SMU, Alabama, Arkansas and the new USC staff are also keen on recruiting him.

AJ Dybantsa's recruitment heats up with Utah and BYU on the scene

BYU has extended an offer to AJ Dybantsa, and Dybantsa visited their campus unofficially. A 6-foot-9, 200-pound forward from Massachusetts, he plans to announce his final 10 college choices by the end of this month. In an interview with Sam Lance of Zagsblog, Dybantsa discussed the 10 schools pursuing him the hardest, including BYU.

"It’s three hours away from Utah Prep, so it’s kinda far, but it was good," Dybantsa said, reflecting on his visit to the BYU campus.

Currently, BYU and Auburn are the only schools he has visited. His father, Ace Dybantsa, manages all communication with college coaches. Dybantsa mentioned:

"Coach (Kevin Young) said hopefully he can get me back on an official visit to see the full profile and plans he has for me."

Other schools in the running include Kentucky, Alabama, USC, Duke, Arkansas, Baylor, UConn and Georgia Tech. Securing AJ Dybantsa would be a significant achievement for BYU, which recently landed top recruits Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings under Coach Young's leadership.