A.J. Dybantsa’s Reclassification and Its Impact on High School Basketball and NBA Prospects

In a significant development for both high school basketball and the future of the NBA, A.J. Dybantsa, the top prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, has announced his decision to reclassify to the 2025 class. This decision, which he revealed on Instagram, has sent shockwaves through the basketball community, positioning him as a strong contender for the No. 1 ranking in the junior class and making him the frontrunner to become the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

Dybantsa’s reclassification has been a subject of much speculation in recruiting circles over the past several months. One key factor in this decision is his age; he will turn 17 in January and is six months older than Cameron Boozer, another standout junior prospect. Dybantsa’s leap to the 2025 class now sets the stage for a riveting battle between two of the most promising young talents in high school basketball.

A 6-foot-8 wing hailing from Brockton, Massachusetts, Dybantsa currently attends Prolific Prep in California and is renowned for his scoring prowess. He showcased his abilities by competing against older players at the Nike Peach Jam in July, where he led the event in scoring, averaging an impressive 25.8 points per game while playing with the Expressions program.

Dybantsa’s dominance extended to the international stage as well, as he started all six games at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship, where he averaged 13.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. His shooting accuracy inside the arc, standing at 69.4%, further highlighted his offensive efficiency.

This young talent also stood out at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, where he claimed the top spot in scoring, averaging 28.3 points over six games in Orlando in June. Dybantsa’s consistent ability to put up big numbers in various settings underscores his remarkable potential and versatility as a player.

To gauge the opinions of college coaches and NBA scouts on Dybantsa and his contemporaries, ESPN conducted a survey over the summer. Dybantsa secured second place behind Cooper Flagg, but his performance earned him seven first-place votes and placed him lower than second on only four ballots. The consensus is clear: Dybantsa is a player in the mold of elite NBA stars, characterized by his versatility and standing at 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-8, the range around which franchise players are often built.

One coach drew comparisons to NBA legends like Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, Jayson Tatum, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George, asserting that Dybantsa possesses the potential to follow in their footsteps. Another coach underlined Dybantsa’s completeness as a player, emphasizing his ability to score at all three levels, his extraordinary athleticism, and predicting that he will inevitably become the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, whenever he decides to enter.

A.J. Dybantsa’s reclassification to the 2025 class sets the stage for an exciting journey in high school basketball and a potentially transformative impact on the future of the NBA. The basketball world will eagerly track his progress as he continues to evolve and realize his remarkable potential.