AJ Dybantsa has been keeping his fans on their toes as they anxiously wait for the five-star prospect to announce his college destination. But while everyone’s waiting to see where the 17-year-old will land, the Utah Prep star is out living it up at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. He was in the middle of all the action, showing support for Red Bull, the brand behind his massive NIL deal. 

Over the weekend, the 6-foot-9 small forward shared a clip from the event. Not only was he chilling and watching the motorsport thrills, but he also got to experience the adrenaline-pumping Mustang® GT Fastback worth $42,860, courtesy of Ford’s partnership with Red Bull. In the video, the athlete is seen hopping into the passenger seat for an exhilarating drifting session.

Right before the ride, he asks the driver, “Super safe, right?” The driver smirks and responds, “What’s that?” Cue the wild ride. It’s not something just anyone gets to do. But then again, being the highest-earning athlete in the 2025 class and association with the brand does have perks.

While Dybantsa was living the high life, Red Bull didn’t have the best day during Qualifying. Max Verstappen, aiming for yet another championship, only managed to get the fifth spot on the grid, while Sergio Perez got 16th.

Coming back to Dybantsa, the hooper is currently a hot commodity in the recruiting world despite not having made a college decision just yet. With a top NIL valuation of $2.6 million, he’s been in the spotlight for a while now, and fans are eagerly waiting to see where he’ll go. 

And if you think the 17-year-old’s path to stardom feels unconventional, that’s because it is. Originally a member of the 2026 class, he spent an extra year in eighth grade to refine his game and grow into his 6’9” frame. But after skyrocketing to the top of his age group, he decided to reclassify back into 2025 last October.

“This is my original class,” AJ explained. “I just wasn’t ready to play with these guys yet, and then once I grew into my body and got a strength coach, I was like, ‘I’m ready to go back up.’” The move paid off. Dybantsa retained his No. 1 ranking, securing his place as the most coveted prospect in the nation.

The 6’9 forward has been slowly narrowing his options, with a list that includes Kansas, North Carolina, Alabama, and BYU. While he had initially planned to announce his college decision in February, he shocked everyone recently by saying that he might commit as early as December. But what is he actually looking for?

AJ Dybantsa looks for a ‘family-oriented’ school

AJ Dybantsa, with all his talent, isn’t just looking for a college that will help him develop on the court. He’s also looking for a program that will fit his values rather than just about blue blood programs or big-name coaches.

In his own words, “Everybody’s gonna think you should have the four or five blue-bloods in there, but I mean me and my family have pillars.” He added, “We need a family-oriented school. I need a coach that’s not gonna sugarcoat, I need the best and fastest development plan.” 

So, which school has the best chance of landing this superstar? According to reports, BYU is leading the pack, with a 68.9% likelihood of securing Dybantsa’s commitment. Kansas State and Alabama are in the mix, but BYU seems to be the front-runner, as he can stay in Utah and go there. 

Before having the time of his life at the Las Vegas GP, the baller took an official visit to BYU and has been showing a lot of interest in them lately. It looks like they could very well be the school that landed him, but we never know. As we count down to his December announcement, it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up.