HURRICANE (USA) - It's fitting that AJ Dybantsa is now playing basketball for Utah Prep, which is located in Hurricane, Utah.
A 2.03M (6'8") guard that many are projecting to go No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft, including AJ himself, is probably going to hit the league like a hurricane, especially if he wreaks havoc on opponents the way he has in his two junior national team summers the last two years for the Americans.
After romping to the U16 AmeriCup title in Mexico with his country, Dybantsa earned a spot in the All-Star Five this summer in Türkiye after the USA marched to the U17 Wold Cup there.
"Yes, no question," he said on the Podcast P with Paul George, when asked if it were a goal to play at the Olympics in Los Angeles.
I'm probably going to play again next year for U19
"I won two gold medals. I'm probably going to play again next year for U19s, hopefully win three. Those are gold medals but you want to feel that 'real gold.'
"Hopefully, I'll be two years in the league and then hopefully winning a gold medal, that would be a amazing, that would start the career off."
Seeing youngsters shine on the international stage is not unheard of.
France's Victor Wembanyama made his country's Olympic roster after just one season in the NBA and had a starring role in Paris.
For Dybantsa, it would be a major accomplishment if he just has a spot on the USA team. But then again, when you watch him compete for the USA or see his highlights for Utah Prep, it's not a stretch to say he's got a good chance of being on the team.
"I told people, 'I don't care if I'm the last dude on the bench, I need me a gold," he said. "I do not care. I'll clap."
Dybantsa averaged 14.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds a game at the U17 World Cup.
FIBA