2026 NBA Draft potential No. 1 pick reshaping NIL, basketball: Meet AJ Dybantsa

BROCKTON, Mass. — When AJ Dybantsa received his first payment for basketball, he had no interest in the money.https://wordpress.com/

As a freshman in high school, Dybantsa was named Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year, a recognition that came with a $1,000 prize. For a 14-year-old who’d only started to excel in basketball a year earlier, that was a substantial amount. For most teenagers, it might go toward video games, new sneakers, or saving for the future. But Dybantsa had other ideas. He thought of Brazzaville, the capital of Congo, where his father, Ace, grew up.

AJ had visited Brazzaville at the age of 4, when his parents, Ace and Chelsea, took him there to give him a sense of perspective on their lives in Brockton and to highlight the importance of giving back.

So, when the Gatorade check arrived, Dybantsa wasn’t sure what to do with it. Keeping the money didn’t feel right.

“Do it from the heart,” Ace advised him. “Don’t take the money. It will come later.”

Since that moment, the 17-year-old Dybantsa has made decisions with a different mindset.

“Don’t take anything for granted,” Dybantsa recently shared with The Athletic. “There are people out there who don’t have what we do. If I stay on this path, I’m going to earn more than that. So, I might as well donate that check back to the community.”

The rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights has changed the landscape of college athletics, and Dybantsa has been riding this wave. He became the third high school basketball player to secure a sneaker deal with Nike and soon after became the face of Red Bull. Dybantsa flourished at St. Sebastian’s, a Boston-area school, before becoming the most sought-after teenage basketball prospect in the country. He signed high-profile deals with Prolific Prep (Calif.) as a junior and Utah Prep as a senior.

Ace had a plan for his children before they were even born: a job as a police officer at Boston University to secure free tuition. But as AJ, Jasmyn, and Samarra showed athletic promise, those plans evolved.

“AJ, when he was in sixth grade, said, ‘Dad, I’m not going to BU,’” Ace recalls with a laugh. “I said, ‘God dammit!’”

Initially, AJ intended to spend most of his senior season exploring college options and making a decision before March Madness. His final four schools included Kansas and North Carolina, with Alabama and BYU in the mix. But just before Thanksgiving, Dybantsa told his parents he was ready. After attending a BYU game in person on November 16, he made his choice.

Dybantsa will likely enter college in Provo, Utah, as the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, already one of the biggest stars in college basketball for the year.

“He’s exactly what the NBA is looking for,” said one NBA executive, speaking anonymously. “A wing with legitimate size who understands the game, can create offense, and theoretically guard multiple positions.”

When Dybantsa donated the Gatorade check to the Boys & Girls Club as a freshman, he imagined the money he’d earn later would come once he was drafted by the NBA. But the explosion of NIL deals changed everything. Dybantsa quickly became a central figure in the bidding wars of the NIL era.

The irony? He didn’t even know how much he was earning. Ace took care of the business side, leaving AJ to focus on school and basketball.

“People talk, but I didn’t even know how much I’m getting,” Dybantsa said. “They just tell my dad. I’m trying to make it to the NBA, so I want to go wherever I can develop the best. Money will come later if I do the work, so I’m not worried about that.”

‘No Plan B’

During his junior season, Dybantsa visited a class of elementary school students in Brockton. The kids were in awe of this towering figure, not much older than them but already famous.

“It feels good,” Dybantsa said. “Basketball was more fun when we were all 10 years old, and nobody had skill. But now, people judge you based on who you are. The same people who hate on you are the same ones asking for pictures later.”

On the drive home, the dynamic shifted back to normal. Ace reminded AJ that, despite his rising fame, he still had chores to do.

“I tell AJ all the time, you may be No. 1 in the country, but in my house, you ain’t No. 1,” Ace says with a grin. “When the coach yells at him, I say, ‘AJ, I love you, don’t I?’ He says, ‘Yes, you do.’ When the coach yells, he loves you. He wants you to fix what you’re doing wrong.”

Ace often recalls times when he told AJ’s coaches to “bench his ass” if his performance didn’t meet their high standards. When AJ didn’t make the honor roll in sixth grade, Ace made it clear his son wouldn’t play in any tournament games.

The coach was taken aback: “You’re really going to drive six hours for that?”

“I told him, ‘You heard what I said,’” Ace replied.

AJ sat out the first game but was allowed to play in the second, a lesson that stuck. Since then, AJ has consistently made the honor roll.

Dybantsa often speaks about the importance of criticism and not sugarcoating things. He believes it’s crucial to push through tough feedback to grow.

“If you get sugarcoated your whole life, you ain’t ever gonna get better,” Dybantsa said. “My dad being tough on me has shaped who I am. Life isn’t easy, and we know that.”

On the court, Dybantsa’s game has developed naturally, with passing being his strong suit. However, both Ace and his coach, Ryan Bernardi, pushed him to become more aggressive as a scorer. AJ’s focus has always been on team play, and he takes pride in creating opportunities for his teammates.

“My mindset will never be just scoring,” Dybantsa said. “I’ll always pass. There’s never going to be a game where I don’t have assists. I like making sure everyone gets involved.”

Standing at 6-foot-8 1/2 with a 7-1 wingspan, Dybantsa’s combination of size, athleticism, basketball IQ, and skill makes him a standout player. His passing reads and defensive ability are elite, with room for further growth.

The Road to Greatness

When Dybantsa started working with trainer Brandon Ball at 14, he quickly showed his exceptional work ethic. Most of Ball’s clients practiced twice a day in the summer, but Dybantsa went above and beyond, training three times a day, just like Terrence Clarke, a former star who tragically passed away in a car accident.

Ball was impressed by Dybantsa’s determination and focus. “The kid’s work ethic is different,” Ball said. “He understood the mission early.”

Dybantsa’s sole focus remains on basketball. He claims his only hobbies are basketball and school, with no distractions. This singular drive has set him apart, a trait shared by many future NBA stars who outwork their peers.

“I don’t have a Plan B,” Dybantsa said confidently. “I plan to be who I’m supposed to be.”

The NIL Revolution

A year ago, Dybantsa hadn’t heard of Utah Prep. The school, which had relocated to Hurricane, Utah, offered a unique opportunity for Dybantsa. After securing a deal with Nike, Dybantsa moved to Utah Prep for his senior year, marking another first in this new NIL-driven era.

The decision was part of a bigger strategy to carve his own path, rather than following the traditional route of attending a powerhouse program like Montverde Academy, which had reportedly offered $1 million for his senior season.

“I want to show people you don’t have to go to a school like that to accomplish your goals,” Dybantsa said.

Ace has managed his son’s career so far, with guidance from legendary agent Leonard Armato. The Dybantsa family has worked together to navigate the NIL landscape, where deals can be worth millions.

As Dybantsa prepares for college, he’s ready to embark on a new phase of his career, one where basketball, hard work, and a strong sense of self are his guiding principles. And while the fame and fortune grow, Dybantsa insists he won’t change.

“I’m not gonna change. People might, but I’m going to stay who I am,” he says. “I think people respect that.”

In January, Dybantsa plans to return to Boston for a community event, continuing his tradition of giving back. With his rise to fame, he’s already one of the highest-paid amateur athletes in history. Ace will keep running the show, while AJ focuses on basketball and growing his career toward NBA stardom. The future is bright — but some things will always stay the same.