If you want to win an NCAA title then you usually need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 2 championship teams from 1979-2020 did not have such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn), and while UConn won a title in 2023 without 1 they added McDonald’s All-American Stephon Castle before winning a 2nd title in 2024. The rosters for this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game were announced last Monday after selecting the 24 best players in the nation from a list of several hundred nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact in the fall, just ask Coach Jon Scheyer how he likes having 2024 honoree Cooper Flagg at Duke! Unlike most years when 1 school stands out as the big winner with the most All-Americans, there are 2 different programs tied for the lead with 3 each (Duke/UConn) and 4 players who have not yet committed to a college. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with AJ Dybantsa about being named a McDonald’s All-American and celebrating a big birthday.
You turn 18 today: what are your plans for the big day? I am getting on a plane.
As a high school freshman you were named Massachusetts Boys’ Basketball Gatorade POY after averaging 19.1 PPG/9.6 RPG/2.5 BPG: how were you able to come in and dominate at such a young age? I have been playing against older guys since I was in 3rd grade so it was nothing new to me.
Last April you scored a game-high 21 PTS for the World Team in a loss to Team USA at the Nike Hoop Summit: which of the other players impressed you the most (VJ Edgecombe/Cooper Flagg/Dylan Harper/other)? There were so many guys who stood out on my World team (VJ/Nolan Traore/Khaman Maluach/Flory Bidunga). Team USA had some great players as well (Cooper/Dylan/Ace Bailey): just look at what they have been doing in college this year.
You played for Team USA at the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas Championship/2024 FIBA U17 World Cup: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a pair of gold medals? It is a dream come true to win any gold medal, and it was fun to travel around the world and face other countries.
You are rated as the #1 player in the Class of 2025: why did you decide to reclassify from the Class of 2026? 2025 was my original class, and after my body developed I felt ready to classify back up.
You received offers from several great schools including Alabama/Kansas/UNC but committed to BYU last month as the highest-ranked recruit in program history: what was the biggest factor in your decision? They have an All-NBA staff from the head coach to the trainer to the dietitian.
Earlier this week you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was a blessing/dream and felt so good to see my name on that list.
You are 6’9” with a wingspan over 7’: what position do you play now, and which position will you feel most comfortable at in college? Right now I play multiple positions, usually the wing, and in college I would feel comfortable at the 1 or 2 or 3.
You traveled to Paris last week for the NBA’s Global Games: what was it like to get an up-close look at Victor Wembanyama? That was my 1st time seeing Victor in person: he is amazing.
With a rumored NIL deal of $5-7 million you will become 1 of the richest teenagers in America this fall: I know it is not polite to ask about money…but what are you going to do with all those dollars? Invest!
