High School Star AJ Dybantsa’s Nike NIL Deal Makes NIL History

AJ Dybantsa’s $4M Nike NIL deal redefines high school athlete potential, marking a historic moment in NIL’s growth and setting a high bar for future stars.

Brockton's AJ Dybantsa, the nation's top-ranked basketball recruit in the 2025 class, donated Nike gear to students at Trinity Catholic Academy in Brockton on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. / Jason Snow / The Enterprise / USA TODAY NETWORK

AJ Dybantsa’s recent NIL deal with Nike has propelled him into a new stratosphere of young athletes, marking a historic moment for NIL and setting a high bar for future high school stars.

The 6’9” forward from Utah Prep, the top high school basketball recruit in the class of 2025, has inked a deal reportedly worth over $4 million, an unprecedented figure for an athlete yet to play a single minute of college ball. This partnership exemplifies Dybantsa’s rare talent and the explosive growth of NIL, which has quickly turned high school phenoms into cant-miss assets and marquee names for global brands.

Dybantsa’s Nike deal is a vivid sign of how NIL has transformed the landscape, with high school athletes now able to secure contracts traditionally reserved for seasoned pros. When Dybantsa signed with Nike, he joined a lineage of greats who have donned the swoosh, fulfilling a dream he has held since watching his favorite players represent the brand.

In a recent “Podcast P with Paul George" appearance, Dybantsa shared his excitement about joining the Nike family. “I mean, it was big. They brought it to my attention, me and my dad, and I was like, ‘Yo it’s Nike.’ Like opportunity like this, you’re signed, like my favorite players are signed to Nike, and I was like, I got to sign the Nike,” he said. “Joining the Nike basketball family is huge. When I was asked, it was a no-brainer… Growing up, watching people that inspired me to wear Nike — to now being part of the same team is an opportunity I don’t take for granted. I can’t wait to see what we can mix up on and off the court.”

Dybantsa’s Nike deal is historic not just for him but for NIL as a whole. This partnership showcases how the landscape has changed since the NCAA’s NIL policy shift in 2021, which has allowed athletes to monetize their fame in ways that were previously unimaginable. Dybantsa’s $4 million-plus contract is particularly game-changing, placing him in a league of his own compared to typical NIL deals for College players, where even top performers generally average around $750,000. Dybantsa’s deal with Nike is on par with seasoned college players, making him one of the highest-earning young athletes and setting a precedent that others will undoubtedly follow.

As the basketball world follows Dybantsa’s journey, his Nike deal highlights the revolutionary changes in the NIL landscape. It redefines the expectations for high school prospects and expands the possibilities for what they can achieve both on and off the court. Dybantsa’s financial success through NIL is a reminder of the value these young athletes bring, reshaping the recruiting environment and offering a glimpse into the future of sports endorsements. His deal may be historic today, but it’s likely just the beginning of even more significant NIL opportunities for the next generation of talent.