NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top 7 teams for 5-star forward AJ Dybantsa
Kansas State Wildcats
After making noise in the transfer portal -- welcoming eight new transfers this season -- Jerome Tang’s Kansas State Wildcats are now hanging with the big guns in the grassroots circuit. Can they be a force on the recruiting trail?
A strong 24+ hours for Jerome Tang and Kansas State.
— Cole Amundson (@playformarch) August 2, 2024
The Wildcats land in the top seven for AJ Dybantsa — the No. 1 overall recruit — and the top eight for Darryn Peterson — arguably the top guard in the class of 2025.
Looking forward to 2025-26, Coleman Hawkins (Illinois), David N’Guessan and Achor Achor (Samford) will depart on the wings, meaning there is plenty of room for AJ Dybantsa to enter and make an immediate impact. Even if the Wildcats may not seem like the most likely destination, Jerome Tang has quite the hefty NIL resources at his disposal in the Little Apple, meaning the Wildcats should not be counted out just yet.
Next. Analyzing top 10 teams for 4-star SG Braylon Mullins. Analyzing top 10 teams for 4-star SG Braylon Mullins. dark
North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels enter the AJ Dybantsa sweepstakes with an interesting situation. On one hand, Jae’LynWithers is the only sure-fire departee with its wings. Drake Powell, a 6-foot-6 five-star SF in the 2024 NCAA basketball recruiting class, has undoubtedly generated NBA Draft buzz thanks to his competitive edge and tenacious defense, however, his offensive game will need more polishing. Ven-Allen Lubin (Vanderbilt) and Cade Tyson (Belmont) will have eligibility remaining in 2025-26, meaning a role for AJ Dybantsa is not as clear-cut compared to other schools. However, it's North Carolina -- one should never rule out the Heels given its pedigree in college basketball recruiting.