All Tar Heels

Kentucky Re-Offers Top-Ranked UNC Basketball Recruiting Target

UNC basketball has heavy competition in the AJ Dybantsa sweepstakes.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis
UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis / Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
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UNC basketball has been in the hunt for Prolific Prep (Calif.) forward AJ Dybantsa since October, extending an offer less than two weeks after the 6-foot-9, 200-pound five-star announced his reclassification from 2026 to 2025. Fellow blueblood Kentucky followed suit with an offer of its own a few weeks later.

ALSO READ: Three UNC Recruiters Check Out Promising Wing From Durham

But that offer was from John Calipari, who has since moved on to Arkansas.

As of this past weekend, though, it appears the Wildcats are back on the prowl for Dybantsa, No. 1 on the 247Sports 2025 Composite. New Kentucky head coach Mark Pope showed up to watch the phenom play at Nike EYBL Session 3 in Indiana and talked to both him and his father on the phone shortly thereafter, On3's Jack Pilgrim reported. Pope re-offered AJ Dybantsa during their chat.

Now, Dybantsa is eyeing a list cut in a couple of months before visiting a handful of colleges in the fall.

"I'm open to every school," he told Pilgrim. "I'll probably narrow it down right after Peach Jam (in mid-July), then I'll take my visits."

Although Dybantsa hasn't decided where all he'll visit, he recently noted tentative plans to be on Tobacco Road, albeit with the intention of checking out one of his newest suitors in UNC basketball's archrival, Duke. Perhaps the Tar Heels will snag a visit just before or after his probable trip to Durham.

AJ Dybantsa, one of nine five-stars on UNC's 2025 wishlist, has yet to reveal a timeline for his decision.

Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI for more UNC basketball recruiting news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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