COLLEGE FOOTBALL: AUG 31 UT Martin at Kansas State - Source: Getty — No. 1 ranked basketball prospect AJ Dybantsa shows his golfing prowess with one of the top HS golfers in the nation (image credit: Getty)

Watch: No. 1 ranked basketball prospect AJ Dybantsa shows his golfing prowess with one of the top HS golfers in the nation

Modified Oct 10, 2024 15:47 GMT

AJ Dybantsa, the nation’s top high school basketball prospect, has proven that his athletic abilities extend beyond the hardwood. Recently, he joined forces with one of the country's leading high school golfers, Kihei Akina, for a day on the golf course, showcasing his versatility.

Standing 6-foot-9 with a 6-11 wingspan, Dybantsa has already received over 30 scholarship offers from top-tier programs, including Kansas and North Carolina. Internationally, he shined at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup, contributing to Team USA’s gold medal win with averages of 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

Joining Dybantsa on the course was Kihei Akina, a standout golfer from Kahuku, Hawaii, ranked 12th nationally by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) with 224.971 points. A member of the Class of 2025, Akina has committed to BYU and has delivered impressive performances on the golf circuit.

BYU basketball prepares for historic recruiting weekend as top prospect AJ Dybantsa visit

While BYU football is riding high with a 5-0 record and a No.14 national ranking, the basketball program is gearing up for its biggest recruiting weekend ever. On October 11, the nation’s top 2025 prospect, AJ Dybantsa, along with his four-star Utah Prep teammate, JJ Mandaquit, will take their official visits to BYU.

JJ Mandaquit received his first offer from BYU assistant coach Kevin Young and has emerged as one of the top playmakers in his class. His finalists include USC, Louisville, Creighton, and Tennessee, but BYU is also in the mix, and his visit alongside Dybantsa underscores the program’s strong appeal.

AJ Dybantsa is widely considered a potential generational talent. The forward is the projected No.1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft by many fans and analysts alike. Dybantsa previously has spoken about his inclination to the school:

"I like it a lot – Chapel Hill," he said (via Aidan Jensen of USA Today's Tar Heels Wire). "They have a lot of (professional) wings… He [Hubert Davis] was telling me I'll play the wing role there. I'll play on-ball and off-ball, I'll be a two-way player – I'll be a do-it-all wing."

Initially scheduled to visit in September, AJ Dybantsa moved his official visit to October to align with Mandaquit’s at the request of Mandaquit’s family, after a joint trip to China. Dybantsa has already completed visits to programs like Auburn, Kansas, North Carolina, and Alabama, with BYU serving as his final planned visit.