While it’s no secret that the nation’s best prospects want to play on the biggest stage in college basketball, five-star forward A.J. Dybantsa confirmed that fact in his Top 7 cutdown list.
Dybantsa included four Big 12 teams among his top seven, with Baylor, BYU, Kansas, and Kansas State joined by Auburn, Alabama, and North Carolina.
ESPN’s Paul Biancardi broke the news of Dybantsa’s cutdown list in an article that included quotes from himself and his father on each program included.
Coming out of Utah Prep in the Class of 2025, Dybantsa is listed as a five-star prospect by the 247Sports index and the nation’s top-ranked player. The 6-foot-9 forward is listed as the top player at his position and the top-ranked player in the state of Utah.
“They believe I can have as good of a season or better than Ja’Kobe Walter,” Dybantsa said on Baylor. “The play style is similar. Scott Drew and John Jakus came to Prolific Prep. Jakus is now the head coach at FAU. I watched Baylor growing up. They had great success with Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell, and recently Keyonte George.”
“After my unofficial visit and conversations with Coach [Kevin Young], he can bring me in and play me like a pro with his knowledge of the NBA with the Suns and taking it to BYU,” Dybantsa said about BYU. “He also mentioned he coached Joel Embiid. He knows what he’s talking about. It’s a big campus and facility.”
“When I look at their history, they also have a track record of guys in my position in the NBA,” Dybantsa said about Kansas. “I talked to Bill Self and coach Kurtis Townsend. Coach Townsend has come to Prolific Prep a few times. They had Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre, and Josh Jackson. They have had great runs of success. They say it’s loud in there.”
“I talked with Jerome Tang,” Dybantsa said about Kansas State. “He told me his guys play with a lot of freedom, but it’s also in a system that is geared toward winning. “
In addition to the quote from A.J., Dybantsa’s father, Ace, spoke about K-State Basketball, saying, “Tang went to Istanbul, Turkey, to see A.J. I like the fact he understands A.J. is a good decision-maker, an extension of the coaching staff. He will allow A.J. to play to his strength. I have a good feel for people, and I trust Coach Tang.”
While the four Big 12 schools will have a lot to manage in order to land the Utah native, should Dybantsa join the league as a Bear, Cougar, Jayhawk, or Wildcat, the Big 12 Conference will have yet another bright new star to watch.
