On Tuesday, the top-ranked basketball prospect in the country in the Class of 2025 appeared with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN to announce his commitment to BYU.
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Amid all of the celebrity status and excitement, Dybantsa is still a high schooler, even if he plays like anything but. Saturday night saw the teenage phenom return back to his rightful place: captivating a packed gymnasium with his on-court prowess, this time doing so at Lehi’s Holiday Hoopfest showcase in a 74-60 victory over a visiting Duncanville squad from Texas.
“It was a good performance, but we won, and that’s all that matters,” Dybantsa told reporters after the game. “We’re improving. We’ve lost a couple games, but (tonight) we bounced back.”
Dybantsa is far too modest. His Saturday night performance was outstanding — by this writer’s count, he scored a dominant 24 points on 9 of 14 shooting with 12 rebounds and three assists, more than living up to his consensus No. 1 recruit reputation.
His personal comparison to Tracy McGrady became rather understandable, as his smooth jumper and comfortable scoring ability clearly called back to those of the dynamic Hall of Fame talent.
“I’ve been watching a lot of (McGrady’s) film, and I feel like we play similar,” Dybantsa said. “I just try to take stuff from his game.”
But much of Dybantsa’s effort won’t show up in any statistics. He played selflessly — setting screens, hustling on defense, making extra passes and doing whatever was necessary to open up opportunities for other scorers.
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) brings the ball up the court while guarded by Duncanville guard Kayden Edwards (5) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) goes up for a dunk against Duncanville during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) guards Duncanville guard Kayden Edwards (5) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) slaps hands with guard Massaer Mbodj (22) during warmups before a high school boys basketball game against Duncanville as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) goes up for a shot while guarded by Duncanville guard Gary Jones (10) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) lays the ball up while guarded by Duncanville guard Kayden Edwards (5) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) slaps hands with guard JJ Mandaquit Jr. (23) just before a high school boys basketball game against Duncanville as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) talks with his teammates during warmups before a high school boys basketball game against Duncanville as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep forward Jackson Kiss (4) dunks the ball against Duncanville during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) jokes around with his teammate guard Anthony Felesi (1) during warmups before a high school boys basketball game against Duncanville as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard Jackson Rasmussen (11) drives the ball on Duncanville guard Beckham Black (0) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) brings the ball up the court while guarded by Duncanville guard Chris Gooden jr. (11) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) controls the ball while guarded by Duncanville guard Christopher Hunt jr (2) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) goes up for a shot while guarded by Duncanville guard Gary Jones (10) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard Jackson Rasmussen (11) shoots the ball while guarded by Duncanville guard Kayden Edwards (5) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard Jackson Rasmussen (11) goes up for a shot while guarded by Duncanville guard Gary Jones (10) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) goes up for a dunk against Duncanville during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts after dunking against Duncanville during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) slaps hands with coaches as he takes the bench during a high school boys basketball game against Duncanville as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard JJ Mandaquit Jr. (23) drives the ball on Duncanville guard Xavion Lawson (1) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) drives the ball while guarded by Duncanville guard Xavion Lawson (1) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) flashes “Y” symbols to the crowd after dunking against Duncanville during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) slaps hands with forward Jackson Kiss (4) during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
“It’s a team game,” Dybantsa said. “I mean, everybody’s got to eat. I’m not the only one playing.”
Just because he didn’t try to play the hero or get greedy doesn’t mean Dybantsa wasn’t having fun. He shouted, smiled and threw down a number of vicious, SportsCenter-worthy dunks on the night, even flashing “Y” hand signs after one such slam to the delight of hundreds of royal and navy blue-clad fans in the building.
“I try to put on a show, but I also want to keep it simple,” Dybantsa said. “The main objective is to win, but I try to warm up the crowd and put on a little show.”
The crowd definitely appreciated such theatrics. Dybantsa received a standing ovation upon checking out for the final time in the contest and was swarmed postgame — both on the court and outside of Utah Prep’s locker room — by fans hunting for selfies, autographs or just wanting to hear a “Go Cougars!” from the potential BYU legend.
So much attention for a high schooler is almost absurd, but Dybantsa isn’t fazed. Whether Cougar Nation is showing love at the Marriott Center or in a Lehi gym, he says he appreciates it all.
“I just hoop. (I feel) blessed,” Dybantsa said. “I’m just trying to take care of all the people who have helped me, and I feel blessed.
“… It’s always good support. I’m a family guy, so I love that support always.”
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts after dunking against Duncanville during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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