WATCH: No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa wows the crowd by scoring 43 points against Carlos Boozer's twins Cameron and Cayden
AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1-rated high school prospect in the Class of 2025, dropped a game-high 43 points for Utah Prep on Sunday. The effort came in a losing cause against Duke legend Carlos Boozer's twin sons, Cameron and Cayden, of the Columbus (FL) Explorers in the final of The Avance at L'Attitude Classic at the Montgomery High School Gym in San Diego, California.
Dybantsa, who also had six rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks, thrilled the crowd with his amazing repertoire of moves, going toe-to-toe with No. 2 prospect Cameron Boozer and No. 21 prospect Cayden Boozer. But in the end, the Explorers won the game, 95-76, with the 6-foot-9 Cameron tallying 42 points and 15 rebounds and 6-foot-4 Cayden contributing 30 points and nine assists.
The three highly-ranked prospects flashed their talents in front of NBA scouts, and 6-foot-9 Dybantsa carried his team from the get-go. Overall, the Brockton, Massachusetts, native shot 14-of-23 from the field, including 8-of-13 from 3-pointers and had a perfect 7-of-7 free-throw clip, as per Gamebook Stats.
The lead ballooned to 11 points in the third period, as the Boozer twins-led Explorers proved to be too much for Dybantsa and his teammates to stop. Columbus raised its game in the payoff period, dropping 30 points to run away with the victory and the title.
The three-day tournament featured six other teams, namely Veritas, NBA Academy, Embassy, Harvard, Sierra Canyon and the Aztecs.
AJ Dybantsa to visit North Carolina on Sept. 20
AJ Dybantsa is scheduled to visit North Carolina on Sept. 20 as part of his tour of seven schools that want his services for the 2025-26 season. The young forward, who is expected to make his decision in February 2025, was visited by the school's coaching staff on Tuesday.
The Tar Heels coaching staff spent time with the 6-foot-9 wing in Utah Prep. They even watched him play in the EYBL circuit, where he averaged 22.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for the Oakland Soldiers.
In August, Dybantsa reduced his final list to seven and had official visits to Auburn, Kansas and Kansas State. He's scheduled to drop by at Alabama (Sept. 27), Baylor (Oct. 4) and BYU (Oct. 11).
AJ Dybantsa also revealed the qualities he is looking for in a college basketball program. He prefers a family-oriented team with a winning culture.
The forward is also familiar with UNC's track record in sending collegiate players to the NBA, especially Chicago Bulls great and 1982 national champion Michael Jordan. He is also impressed with former coach Roy Williams and current coach Hubert Davis, whom he had a chance to talk with in the past.
Which school will AJ Dybantsa pick for college in 2025? Let us know your views in the comments section.