G League Ignite: What Two Seasons in Pro System Could do for A.J. Dybantsa

A.J. Dybantsa is considering joining G League Ignite next season but isn't eligible to make the jump to the NBA until the summer of 2026. What could he gain from two years in this pro system?

Late last week, A.J. Dybantsa — a 16-year-old phenom in the high school class of 2025 — visited Las Vegas to get a firsthand look at the G League Ignite program.

While he's currently just a junior in high school, Dybantsa reclassified from 2026 to 2025 and is still ranked as the No. 1 prospect in that class. Eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft, he could spend two seasons in the G League playing with Ignite rather than going the traditional route of playing one more season of high school, followed by a one-and-done college campaign. 

Ignite has proven to produce legitimate NBA talent, with several players being selected in each of the past few drafts. The level of talent continues to rise, with more than a dozen players on the current roster that will have the chance to be taken in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Although most of these players only spent one season in the G League, Dybantsa would be there for two years. This still isn't uncommon though, as players like London Johnson and Dink Pate have signed similar deals and made the jump to playing professionally much earlier than most. 

This would mean a significant increase in the level of competition that Dybantsa is used to, even if he is playing against the best high schoolers in the country today. At the G League level, he would be going up against adults who play extremely physically. This also would include regularly going up against first and second-year NBA players who are recent draft picks but need to spend time in the G League developing. As such, every single game would be a tremendous test. By the time Dybantsa would enter the league in the 2026-27 season, he would be very well equipped to make an immediate impact at the NBA level. 

Furthermore, Dybantsa would have the chance to practice against other top prospects every single day in a professional setting with a nutrition plan, strength and conditioning program and much more. 

While nothing is official, Dybantsa's interest in G League Ignite makes sense. If he were to sign, the pathway to the league and exposure to NBA scouts would be favorable. 

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