High School

AJ Dybantsa's impact on community at forefront of career wherever he may end up

Instilled by his father, No. 1 basketball recruit AJ Dybantsa says whatever NBA city he ends up in will also get his 'love and support'.

Tarek Fattal, Myckena Guerrero, SBLive Sports

No. 1 high school basketball recruit AJ Dybantsa enters Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, NY while being introduced for the 2025 McDonald's All-American game.
No. 1 high school basketball recruit AJ Dybantsa enters Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, NY while being introduced for the 2025 McDonald's All-American game. / Becksen Haldeman

Most of the McDonald's All-American Game experience is about basketball. The competitive scrimmages, the media, the skill competitions, and of course, the game.

But the most important part of the weekend for these teenage superstars is the trip to the Ronald McDonald House each year where the athletes spend time with young children dealing with illness.

The 2025 McDonald's All-American game was in Brooklyn, so the future basketball stars of America took a trip to the Ronald McDonald's House in New York where No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa felt right at home.

"I give back to my community a lot. My Dad did it a lot growing up and when I was growing up, he would take me and my sisters," Dybantsa said in a 1-on-1 interview with High School On SI's Myckena Guerrero.

Dybantsa is projected to be an NBA Lottery pick in the 2026 draft after one year at BYU, where he's reported to make $7-million in an NIL deal. He could be tomorrow's next basketball star on the court, but in is interview he says he intends to star off the court in whatever city he will call home in the NBA.

INTERVIEW: USC-bound Alijah Arenas is a man of the people

When asked what legacy Dybantsa wants to leave behind, he led with community.

"Doing everything for the community," he said. "Wherever I hopefully get drafted to, that city is also going to get my love and support."

Dybantsa scored 17 points in Team West's 105-92 victory over Team East in the McDonald's All-American game Tuesday night on ESPN. He also dunked over Angel Reese in the dunk contest, but was bested by eventual winner Tounde Yessoufou.

Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school sports news.

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: 

Download iPhone App | Download Android App

Published
Tarek Fattal, SBLive Sports
TAREK FATTAL

Tarek Fattal has been covering high school sports since 2015 in Southern California and primarily in Los Angeles, covering notable athletes such as Bronny James, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Alyssa Thompson. He was with the LA Daily News for eight years, which included being the beat reporter for the UCLA men's basketball team. Tarek can be seen on TV regularly on CBS/KCAL as a sports analyst with Jim Hill.

Myckena Guerrero, SBLive Sports
MYCKENA GUERRERO, SBLIVE SPORTS

For the past eight years Myckena Guerrero has been working with great, talented individuals in the sports industry and beyond. Her goal is to show the world the authentic stories behind the helmets of their favorite athletes. Myckena graduated from California State University of Sacramento with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She has been honored to interview athletes from all levels and walks of life including Steph Curry, Jerome Bettis, Canelo Alvarez, Larry Fitzgerald, Bryce Young, DJ Uiagalelei Trevor Lawrence, Allyson Felix, and Abby Wombach.

Home/National