2025 No. 1 prospect AJ Dybantsa takes official visit to USC
Needham (Ma.) Prolific Prep Five-Star Plus+ small forward AJ Dybantsa made headlines earlier this month when it was announced that he was reclassifying to the 2025 cycle.
The 6-foot-8, 185-pounder was the No. 1 overall prospect in 2026 and immediately took the top spot in the Class of 2025. Now, the touted recruit is making moves in his recruitment, as he took an official visit to USC over the weekend.
The Trojans are alongside the likes of Alabama, Auburn, UConn, Michigan and Texas as programs that have offered Dybantsa. USC is yet to land a commitment in the 2025 class, but already have two in 2024: four-star guards Trent Perry and Liam Campbell. USC also signed the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class this past cycle, Five-Star Plus+ point guard Isaiah Collier.
Despite being just 16 years old, Dybantsa is already considered to be one of the best high school basketball players in the nation, regardless of class. On3’s Jamie Shaw had this to say about the recruit upon his reclassification:
“Dybantsa played up two age groups this summer in the 17U Division of Nike’s EYBL Circuit. His 17.1 points finished the regular season in the top 20 on the Nike EYBL Circuit. He turned things up a notch during Peach Jam, where Dybantsa led all players in scoring at 25.8 points — over 4.5 points more than the second person. In total, he averaged 20.6 points and shot 50.4% from the field.”
…The five-star has a comfortable mid-post game. He has an array of jab steps that get his defender off balance and allow him clean looks from 12 to 18 feet. The footwork for Dybantsa is developing, becoming more and more natural. While he can attack the basket and finish at the rim, he is also able to pull up off two or three dribbles to knock down a shot.”
Dybantsa has an On3 NIL Valuation of $326K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.
AJ Dybantsa Scouting Summary
“AJ Dybantsa is a lengthy and wiry 6-foot-7, maybe 6-foot-8 wing. He has a slippery and smooth handle in the open floor that allows him to attack the basket downhill. He is a bouncy athlete at the rim, finishing high above in transition. Dybantsa has a smooth jump shot and can create his own shots off the bounce. He has the length and upside to be very good when he is locked in on the defensive end. With a 2007 birthday, he has the foundation of all the tools; it will simply be about continuing to get stronger and developing the vast skill base. He is tracking as one of the top players in his class.”