AJ Dybantsa picks BYU, so what's next for Hubert Davis, UNC ...

Show Caption

Hide Caption

Hubert Davis press conference after UNC basketball win vs Georgia Tech

Following UNC basketball's win vs. Georgia Tech in the ACC opener, head coach Hubert Davis discussed the Tar Heels' performance and the week ahead.

AJ Dybansta plans to play college basketball at BYU, the top-ranked recruit announced Tuesday morning on ESPN. 

Dybantsa, the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 class and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, picked the Cougars over UNC, Alabama and Kansas. The Massachusetts native revealed his college choice on ESPN’s “First Take.” 

BYU was long considered the favorite to land Dybansta, but the Crimson Tide and Tar Heels made a late push to make things interesting in the final weeks before his commitment. He took official visits to all four finalists in September.  

UNC 2025 CLASS: UNC basketball's Hubert Davis talks Derek Dixon, Isaiah Denis, Tar Heels’ 2025 recruiting class

'WOUNDED': Hubert Davis, UNC basketball ready to 'heal,' hit reset button with week off

Here’s a breakdown of Dybantsa's game and what’s next for the Tar Heels.

AJ Dybantsa stats, scouting report 

The 6-foot-9, 210-pound wing has the prototypical frame and skills to be the top player in college basketball before becoming the face of an NBA franchise in 2026. An elite scorer, Dybantsa is playing his senior season at Utah Prep in Hurricane. On Dec. 6 in a loss to Dream City, Dybantsa had 31 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. He followed that with 28 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals against Prolific Prep on Dec. 7. 

As he prepares to make the jump for what is certain to be a one-and-done season at the college level, it’s hard not to look at Dybansta without seeing a little bit of Jayson Tatum, who arrived at Duke as a 6-foot-8, 210-pound wing before becoming one of the top players in the NBA with the reigning champion Boston Celtics. On "First Take," Dybantsa said he plays "like a mix of Tracy McGrady and Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander)."

UNC basketball recruits include Derek Dixon, Isaiah Denis

Head coach Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels have a pair of guards set to join the team ahead of the 2025-26 season. Four-star recruits Isaiah Denis and Derek Dixon signed with UNC in mid-November, giving the Heels a few options to help fill the void that will be left by fifth-year guard RJ Davis. 

What’s next for Hubert Davis, Tar Heels in the 2025 recruiting class? 

Currently 29th in the 2025 class rankings, according to the 247Sports Composite, UNC remains in search of a high-profile prospect to join the Tar Heels ahead of the 2025-26 season. Davis added five-star recruits Ian Jackson and Drake Powell ahead of this season and five-star guard Elliot Cadeau in the prior season. 

As it stands, Caleb Wilson seems like the most likely prospect to become a Tar Heel. Kentucky is reportedly the top challenger for Wilson, a 6-foot-9 power forward and top-ranked player in Georgia. Ty Claude, RJ Davis and Jae'Lyn Withers are the lone players on UNC's roster with no eligibility after this season.

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.