AJ Dybantsa, top 2026 basketball player, reclassifies

Field Level Media|published: Wed 11th October, 13:08 2023

Dec 20, 2021; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; A general view as a basketball goes through the hoop as the Stetson Hatters warm up prior to the game against the Miami Hurricanes at Watsco Center. credits: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 high school basketball player in the 2026 class, said Wednesday he is reclassifying to 2025.

He made the announcement on his Instagram page, writing "time is right!"

In the 2025 class, he will become the No. 1 player, jumping over Cameron Boozer, the son of former Duke great and NBA player Carlos Boozer, 247Sports reported.

Dybantsa, who moves to the junior class, told 247Sports he is doing so now to aid in his recruitment.

"Just so that my recruitment can be impacted a little bit more," Dybantsa said about his decision to reclassify. "Nobody is expecting it now. Everybody expects people to do it at the last second and I don't want to be that last second guy. I just wanted to do it ahead of that."

From Brockton, Mass., Dybsanta plays at Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif. He told 247Sports that he is considering visits to Auburn, Oregon and Washington. The 6-foot-8 wing is expected to spend just one year in college, should he decide to attend, and compete for the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Dybantsa was a member of the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas Championship team that won the gold medal over the summer. He played in six games and averaged 13.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He shot 27.3 percent from three-point range and 69.4 percent from inside the arc.

—Field Level Media