Five-star forward AJ Dybantsa places Auburn in top schools

The 6-9 small forward is the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 class.

Forward [autotag]AJ Dybantsa[/autotag] narrowed his favorite list of schools down to seven on Friday morning. The No. 1 overall recruit in the class, Dybantsa’s list includes BYU, North Carolina, Kansas State, Kansas, Baylor, Alabama, and Auburn.

The 6-9, 200-pound small forward rates at a “100” on the recruiting scale according to most scouts. That scouting report has made him an early favorite to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, something that has weighed heavily on Dybantsa’s decision regarding where he would like to play college basketball.

Out of the seven schools he listed, Auburn is the only one in which he has already visited. The Brockton, Mass. native spoke highly of his time with [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] on the Plains, specifically stating Pearl’s ability to develop him into a scorer at the next level.

“They were saying that if I came here, they would play me a lot at the wing, the 2-guard ..I’d be a scorer and a playmaker,” Dybantsa said in a recent interview with On3’s Joe Tipton. “That’s what I’m trying to do at the next level.”

While many experts currently give Auburn the edge in landing the most coveted recruit in the 2025 class, fans will receive more clarity after Dybansta finishes his visits later this year. If he were to become a Tiger, Bruce Pearl would land his biggest recruit since [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] came to the Plains as the No. 7 ranked prospect in the nation.

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Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope has contacted 2025 top recruit A.J. Dybansta

Kentucky basketball has contacted 2025 recruit A.J. Dybansta.

A.J. Dybansta is the top recruit in the 2025 recruiting class. The 6’9″ forward will have his pick of the top schools, and it appears that Kentucky basketball will be one of those options.

According to Dybansta, new Wildcats coach Mark Pope has been in contact with his father, who handles his recruitment.

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

The five-star recruit has heard from a number of schools, as expected, and has even taken a couple of visits already. Former Kentucky coach John Calipari is certain to be interested as well.

Dybansta did add a positive thought about Kentucky under Pope, saying:

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

A decision from the 2025 recruit isn’t expected anytime soon. He plans to set up some visits this fall before making a choice. Big Blue Nation is happy to see Pope going after some of the top recruits in next year’s class, and hopeful that he’ll land a few of them.