BOSTON — It isn’t usually that father Anicet Dybantsa takes No. 1-ranked boys basketball recruit AJ Dybantsa’s cellular phone just a few hours earlier than a recreation, solely doing so for large video games to assist the Brockton native – and presumptive No. 1 choose within the 2026 NBA Draft – focus earlier than the largest ones.
Earlier than a packed crowd at Emmanuel Faculty on Wednesday night time in his final Boston highschool look, dealing with Virginia’s Highland Faculty together with his Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah) workforce, made the reduce.
As his telephone blew up your entire night time in Anicet’s pocket, AJ delivered 18 factors, six rebounds, 4 assists and two steals to assist Utah Prep transfer to 3-0 with a 79-71 win. Fourth-ranked prospect Nate Ament scored a game-high 27 reverse him with AJ as his major defender, however spurts of spectacular protection in entrance of the hometown crowd proved greater than sufficient from AJ to solidify an enormous win.
He’s set to return to Springfield in January, however AJ’s final look in Boston was signature not only for AJ, however for Anicet as properly.
“It’s at all times good to play again residence. The house crowd … see some acquainted faces,” AJ stated. “It was good. We got here out right here to attempt to win in entrance of the group, that’s what we did.”
“It means rather a lot, individuals love him,” Anicet added. “I’m very blissful. That’s all we ask for, is help the child. He’s a neighborhood child. What number of instances we going to see that in Massachusetts? He got here from Brockton, he’s No. 1 within the nation. He’s loved the second. We’re blessed. Our household is blessed.”
As the center little one of three, a part of what made AJ’s homecoming particular was seeing his household – together with attending a few his youthful sister’s volleyball video games.
He obtained out in the neighborhood, too, showing on the Roxbury Boys and Ladies Membership after making an analogous look final yr on the department in Brockton.
“Brockton’s residence, however Massachusetts – the entire state – is basically residence. So that you’ve obtained to go to completely different elements of it,” AJ stated. “I gave them some phrases of knowledge, some recommendation. Stuff like that. Youngsters don’t get to essentially talk with me, so I like doing stuff like that.”
Taking part in for Utah Prep for his final yr of highschool, after reclassifying to the category of 2025, marks three completely different colleges for AJ in his path to changing into the nation’s high recruit and a world determine. He was at St. Sebastian’s, transferred to California’s Prolific Prep, and now lives in Utah, the place Anicet moved as properly to help him.
His highlight has surged in that point as he’s traveled throughout, together with his journey to China being considered one of his favorites.
“Individuals simply love basketball there,” he stated.
Youngsters have stopped him on the streets in search of autographs, and he’s accustomed to gamers already within the NBA.
Anicet says he focuses on maintaining AJ grounded, and the 17-year-old has dealt with his highlight with grace and gratitude.
“He’s only a nice child,” Anicet stated.
AJ nonetheless hasn’t determined the place he’ll play in faculty, however has reduce down his prospects to 6 colleges – Alabama, Auburn, BYU, Kansas, Kansas State and North Carolina. The objective of saying his choice in February isn’t so strict, with Anicet guessing it might come as quickly as the tip of this month, although says the choice is all AJ’s.
Within the meantime, AJ is simply having fun with the trip.
“(My favourite half is) simply touring, being with (my) teammates and simply making new pals,” he stated. “I’ve been to a few completely different colleges in three years, so it’s simply making connections with individuals. Being within the lodges with them and having enjoyable with them off the courtroom.”
