Dybantsa earns McDonald’s All-American Game selection, first for BYU since 2000
Courtesy BYU Photo
A.J. Dybantsa, the No. 1-ranked men's basketball recruit in the country, is introduced to the home crowd in the Marriott Center at halftime of a game against Fresno State on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. Dybantsa has signed a letter of intent to play for the Cougars next season.BYU men’s basketball signee AJ Dybantsa was one of 24 high school boys’ basketball players selected to play in the 2025 McDonald’s All American Game. The 48th edition of the game will be played on Tuesday, April 1, in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The 6-foot-9 forward will play for the West squad and becomes the sixth Cougar to earn the honor, joining Garner Meads (2000), Shawn Bradley (1990), Michael Smith (1983), Greg Kite (1979) and Devin Durrant (1978).
Dybantsa is the nation’s top recruit for the Class of 2025 by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com and was one of 25 players on the Naismith Trophy Boys High School Player of the Year Midseason Team. He was also named to the USA roster of the upcoming 2025 Nike Hoop Summit, where he will compete at the event for a second consecutive year.
He is playing his senior season at Utah Prep in Hurricane, Utah alongside another BYU signee, Xavion Staton. Earlier this month, Dybantsa combined to score 72 points in a pair of games in New Jersey, including a 41-point performance in a 20-point victory over Western Reserves.
