No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa hears from new staff: "Kentucky is always a powerhouse"

To say it’s been a slow start for Kentucky‘s high school recruiting efforts would be an understatement. And you can’t blame Mark Pope and his staff for that — they’ve got a whole roster to fill for the upcoming season with the portal closing next week for new additions. That’s the first, second, fifth and tenth priority before worrying about who could be joining the fold down the road.

The early groundwork is being laid, though, slowly but surely. New names are popping up here and there by the day, fitting in what they can as the chaos settles down a bit.

Among them? The best of the best, unsurprisingly, as No. 1 overall recruit AJ Dybantsa has heard from the new Kentucky staff.

Well, the top-ranked rising senior thinks his father has. Definitely. Maybe? Something like that.

“I’m pretty sure they talked to my dad, he handles all of my recruitment,” Dybantsa told KSR. “I think they definitely reached out to him.”

The Wildcats were seen as one of the top contenders in his recruitment before John Calipari’s move to Arkansas, but now, things are up in the air — as they are with everyone. That’s how coaching changes work, Dybantsa talking about one of his two official visits thus far being to USC with Andy Enfield, who is now the head coach at SMU. Eric Musselman replaced him in Southern California and he hasn’t heard from the new staff since, doesn’t know where things stand there.

Coach Cal’s departure doesn’t change his thoughts on Kentucky in general — it’s the same school and platform today as it was a month ago.

“I mean, Kentucky is always a powerhouse,” he told KSR. “I think they’re going to continue to be a powerhouse and get top recruits because that’s who they are.”

That doesn’t mean he’s totally up to speed on the new head coach in Lexington and his blueprint for success with the Wildcats, though. He’s got some brushing up to do, to put it lightly.

“I don’t know anything about Mark Pope,” Dybantsa added.

What about the other schools in contention? Arkansas has thrown its hat in the ring with Calipari leading the way.

“I got an offer about a week ago, not even that. Cal reached out, Chin (Coleman) reached out and I got an offer,” he told KSR. “He said it’s the same brand, just a different location. They said they’re going to keep coaching the same way, doing things the same way, but it’s a different location.”

UNC is a name of interest with a potential visit in the works to Chapel Hill.

“I’ve heard from them, they offered at the beginning of my Prolific (Prep) season. They stay in contact with my dad,” Dybantsa said. “No clue (what their message is), but I might take a visit this fall. I have to set that up with UNC.”

What about Auburn, who received one of his two official visits to this point?

“Auburn was good with Bruce Pearl, they’re still in contact,” he added.

Does he have any other visits officially lined yet? Not quite, but he plans to take several this fall.

“I’ve only taken two (to USC and Auburn), but in the fall, September, October and November when they’re in-season and during football season, I’ll definitely take some more visits,” he said. “I have no idea (who will get them).”

Any timeline for a decision? That’s not even remotely on his radar at this point.

“I have no clue,” he told KSR. “I’m probably going to take four or five more visits and then narrow it down from there. We’ll just go from there.”

Baby steps, but the door is cracked there for Kentucky if Pope and his staff want to pursue it.