A.J. Dybantsa, No. 1 in 2025, arrives at Auburn for visit, speaks with Charles Barkley
By ADAM ZAGORIA
A.J. Dybantsa, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2025, arrived at Auburn for his official visit Friday night and spoke with the school’s most famous alum, Charles Barkley, by phone.
No. 11 Auburn hosts Mississippi State at 4 p.m. Saturday.
“We arrived at Auburn last night for an official visit,” Ace Dybantsa, A.J.’s father, told ZAGSBLOG. “Coach Bruce Pearl picked us up at ATL airport and drove us to Auburn. We got a chance to speak to Auburn’s most famous basketball alumni, Charles Barkley.”
Speaking to reporters last October at the annual Bruce, Barkley & Basketball Golf Classic at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Opelika, Barkley said of his recruiting pitch, “Once you go to Auburn, it’s just such an awesome, special place. There are a lot of good schools, but I think Auburn’s just a special place.
“I got here in 1981, which was 100 years ago, and every time I come down here, it’s always special.
The 6-foot-8 Dybantsa reclassified to the Class of 2025, and is now the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Now settled at Prolific Prep, the 6-foot-8 Brockton, Mass., native is just focused on books and basketball while his dad handles his future.
He recently added offers from Kansas and Illinois following an offer from Kentucky.
Another school they hope to visit is Baylor, the 2021 NCAA champion coached by Scott Drew.
The Bears have been in regular contact with Dybantsa.
Dybantsa did not have a dream school growing up. And according to his dad, there is no geographical preference on where A.J. goes to college.
For now, AJ is one of, if not the most highly regarded high school basketball player, enjoying life while working out with last summer with LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
“That was good,” A.J. told ZAGSBLOG in November. “I got a lot of tips from them. I think it helped improve my game. And I took some [tips] and added it to my game.”
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