Five-star forward AJ Dybantsa will start a busy stretch of the calendar, as he begins his official visit schedule with a trip to Kansas State this weekend.
Dybantsa is considered the best player in the class of 2025 and is the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, so his visit to Manhattan is a massive opportunity for head coach Jerome Tang and his staff.
Here is a look at where Dybantsa’s recruiting stands, and where K-State sits before his visit begins.
Who is AJ Dybantsa?
There are few players in basketball with as much talent and upside as AJ Dybantsa, who is considered the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Some people even believe he would be the top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft if he were eligible.
Dybantsa has impressed at every level of basketball, including on the EYBL circuit and with USA Basketball at the FIBA U17 World Cup this summer. Dybantsa averaged 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.1 points for the national team, including a 14-point performance in the World Cup Final.
Listed at 6-foot-7, Dybantsa has the unique blend of size and skill to impress at any level. He’ll be an immediate contributor in college and likely be a favorite for most national awards in his first (and likely only) season.
Dybantsa has drawn comparisons to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and while he isn’t the first player to earn those lofty comparisons, he might be the first to match that talent. The shooting still has to come around (he shot just 31.8% at the U17 World Cup), but his athleticism and shot-creating ability are impressive. Although he needs to continue to develop, Dybantsa has all the tools and measurables to be a cornerstone for any NBA franchise, let alone a college basketball team for one season.
Who are the main competitors for Dybantsa?
Dybantsa recently announced a top seven, naming Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, BYU, Kansas, K-State, and North Carolina as finalists. However, he had his pick of the litter, holding offers from every major college basketball program.
He currently has six official visits scheduled, as he’ll make trips to Kansas (Sept. 6), North Carolina (Sept. 20), Alabama (Sept. 27), Baylor (Oct. 4), and BYU (Oct. 11) following his look at K-State this weekend.
BYU is the team to watch here. It will certainly surprise most fans, as BYU has never been a contender for top college basketball talent, but new head coach Kevin Young has revitalized the donor pool. Since Young’s hiring, BYU has become a major competitor in the NIL space, and they seem set to make Dybantsa one of the highest-paid players in college basketball since the introduction of NIL.
NIL isn’t the only thing for Dybantsa, who is also prioritizing his development as a player, so he likely won’t commit to the highest-bidder outright. However, Young also comes from the NBA, where he was an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns.
North Carolina is also an interesting program to watch here. The Tar Heels are one of the only “blue bloods” still involved in his recruitment, and they’ve sent plenty of players to the NBA. They’ll have the NIL money to compete with any school and will provide additional opportunities from sponsorships.
The thing to watch is BYU having the final official visit for Dybantsa. It’s widely considered a positive sign when a school earns the final visit, and that could remain the case here.
Where does K-State stand?
Jerome Tang and his staff are always confident when they can get a high-level player onto their campus for a visit. They closed most of their deals in the transfer portal following the official visit, and are hoping this remains the case in high school recruiting.
With so many factors in Dybantsa’s recruitment, we aren’t naming the Wildcats the odds-on favorite. However, K-State has as good a chance to land Dybantsa as any program on his list, except for maybe BYU.
The Wildcats may not have the same available money as BYU, but they’re insanely close with their NIL budget. Under their collective, WildcatNIL, K-State could likely get close to matching any deal presented to Dybantsa. That combined with the respect that Tang has in college basketball could push the Wildcats over the edge.
There’s still work to be done for K-State to be considered the favorite for Dybantsa, but landing an official visit is a promising sign. They’ll fight to the end on his one.
***
Like what you read? Consider subscribing to EMAW ONLINE with a PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION.
Come join the conversation over at THE CAT CAVE FORUM.
Follow EMAW ONLINE on Twitter: @RivalsFielder, @EMAWOnline
