Vitals
6' 8"
Forward
HS Team
NCAA
Career History
2023-2024 Prolific Prep
2024-2025 Utah Prep
2025- BYU Cougars
Career Highlights
- 2025 McDonald's All-American
- 2025 Naismith High School Player of the Year - Finalist
- 2025 Nike Hoop Summit
- 2025 Jordan Brand Classic
- 2025 Grind Session All-Star
- 2025 All-Grind Session
- 2025 Grind Session All-Defensive Team
- 2025 Grind Session Defensive Player of the Year
- 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup MVP
- 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup
- 2024 Grind Session World Champion
- 2024 Grind Session MVP
- 2024 Grind Session All-Star
- 2024 All-Grind Session
- 2024 Nike Hoop Summit
- 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup
- 2023 FIBA U16 Americas
NIL Deals
Dybantsa has significant NIL deals, including an eight-figure, multi-year deal with Fanatics Collectibles and partnerships with Nike and Red Bull.
Recruiting
During his recruitment, Dybantsa received offers from nearly every Division 1 college basketball program in the nation and eventually narrowed down his list to a final four of Alabama, BYU, Kansas, and North Carolina. On December 10, 2024, Dybantsa announced on ESPN's "First Take" that he would be committing to BYU. He became the highest-ranked committed recruit to join BYU in program history.
Player Headlines: AJ Dybantsa
Lausanne Switzerland
The 2025 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup tipped off over the weekend in Lausanne, Switzerland and the competition is loaded with an impressive lineup of Grind Session talent. Here are the 14 former and current Grind Session stars representing their respective national teams and hoping to raise the...
Schlieren Switzerland
Grind Session Stars Shine at FIBA U19 World Cup as USA and Canada Go Undefeated The stars of the Grind Session are taking center stage on the global basketball stage this week, as the FIBA U19 World Cup unfolds in Switzerland. With standout performances from Team USA, Team Canada, and now Cameroon...
The impressive list is expected to grow in the weeks and months ahead. The Grind Session proudly announces that 89 senior athletes from the Class of 2025 have officially committed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level during the 2025–2026 season. These seniors are...
The best high school basketball players in the world took center stage on Saturday night at the Nike Hoop Summit. In the end, the Grind Session’s three participating stars in the men’s game – AJ Dybantsa ( Utah Prep) Mikel Brown, Jr. ( DME Academy), and Ikenna Alozie ( Dream City Christian) – lived...
247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein announced Wednesday that Prolific Prep’s Darryn Peterson will finish as the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2025 when the final rankings come out in May. The Kansas commit will jump fellow Grind Session standout and Utah Prep star AJ Dybantsa for...
AJ Dybantsa, Mikel Brown Jr, Ikenna Alozie, Bella Hines, and Nyadieng Yiech to battle this weekend in the elite showcase of tomorrow's college, NBA/WNBA stars. Five Grind Session stars have been named to the USA and World rosters for the 26th Nike Hoop Summit, which features a men's and women's game...
Brooklyn New York
The McDonald's All-American Game took center stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, showcasing the best high school basketball talent in the country. This year’s event was particularly special for The Grind Session, as four of its standout players were selected to compete in the...
Brooklyn New York
Four of the Grind Session’s biggest stars of this past season showcased their skills in front of a national audience Tuesday in the 2025 McDonald's All-American Game, leading the West team to a 105-92 victory over the East. Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Niko Bundalo, and Mikel Brown, Jr. score...
Brooklyn New York
A quartet of Grind Session players will be competing in the McDonald's All-American Game on Tuesday night inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. AJ Dybantsa of Utah Prep, Darryn Peterson and Niko Bundalo of Prolific Prep, and Mikel Brown Jr. of DME Sports Academy will be on the West team...
Grind Session recently announced its men’s and women’s individual award winners and other honorees for the 2024-2025 season. Showcasing the strength and parity of the circuit, 23 different teams earned a place on the various listings and 10 programs saw themselves with at least one individual award...
Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Philadelphia will be the epicenter of the high school basketball world this weekend when rising hoops superstar AJ Dybantsa headlines a three-day Grind Session showcase at School of the Future (4021 Parkside Avenue) from Friday through Sunday. Dybantsa is the consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2025...
Grind Session stars AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Mikel Brown, Jr. have been named three of the 10 semifinalists for the 2025 Naismith Boy’s High School Player of the Year award. They still have a month to make their case for the prestigious award, which will be presented to one winner on March...
Top-ranked class of '25 recruits to lead their teams in marquee matchup of national powerhouses. The two top-ranked high school basketball players in the 2025 recruiting class – AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson – will be taking center stage in Atlanta this weekend when they go head-to-head in a mid...
Hilo Hawaii
Grind Session Hawaii Day Two: Thrilling Final Matchups in Hilo The second and final day of Grind Session Hawaii in Hilo delivered thrilling basketball action, highlighted by dominant performances from top talent and memorable moments for local fans. Utah Prep vs. Albuquerque Prep Utah Prep showcased...
Final Score: Utah Prep 105, Elite Prep 63 Utah Prep delivered a commanding performance Friday night at the Grind Session Hawaii event, cruising past Elite Prep with a decisive 105-63 victory in Hilo, Hawaii. Eight players scored in double figures for Utah Prep, showcasing their depth and teamwork in...
In a groundbreaking decision, AJ Dybantsa, the standout player for Utah Prep and a projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, announced his commitment to BYU this morning on ESPN. Dybantsa chose the Cougars over basketball powerhouses Alabama, North Carolina, and Kansas, citing a desire for a...
Murray Kentucky
The highly anticipated matchup will take place on Saturday, December 7 at CFSB Center, home of the Murray State men's and women's basketball teams. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM (Eastern). No. 1 AJ Dybantsa and No. 3 Darryn Peterson headline the marquee matchup AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson will...
The Grind Session, an elite winter circuit of high school basketball, brings together some of the best basketball talent from around the world. Running from November through March, the Grind Session hosts weekly events across the United States and Canada, featuring teams from three competitive...
Boston Massachusetts
In his highly anticipated return to Boston, AJ Dybantsa showcased his skills on a familiar court, leading Utah Prep to a thrilling 79-71 victory over Highland (VA) at Emmanuel College in the latest Grind Session event. The matchup brought out fans from all over Boston eager to see Dybantsa, now a...
Benton Kentucky
Prolific Prep, Utah Prep, and Dream City Christian considered early contenders to challenge for the national championship Three Grind Session teams will begin the 2024-25 high school boys basketball campaign as early contenders for the national championship, having recently been ranked in the...
Denver Colorado
Grind Session Kicks Off 11th Season in Denver, Colorado: November 1-3rd Grind Session is back for its highly anticipated 11th season, and it all begins November 1-3rd in Denver, Colorado. Hosted at Manual High School, this opening weekend will feature an exciting lineup of matchups from some of the...
