AJ Dybantsa has barely even stepped foot onto a college court, but he’s already a big name. From his highly anticipated college choice announcement to his appearance at BYU’s J. Willard Marriott Center, it’s clear that all eyes are on him. And if you thought that was impressive, the small forward latest achievement has officially dethroned Cooper Flagg as the richest NIL basketball player. 

He is now sitting at the top, and his NIL value is absolutely skyrocketing. The Duke star has been raking in some pretty amazing deals, like Gatorade and New Balance, with a $2.7 million NIL value to his name. That’s no small feat, but AJ Dybantsa is now at a solid $2.8 million, per On3.com.

Moreover, the 17-year-old’s deals are not only lucrative but also incredibly high-profile, placing him in a league of his own. For starters, he just inked an absolutely historic NIL deal with Nike. We’re talking about a deal worth over $4 million. It’s worth noting that he is just a high schooler—one who hasn’t even played a minute of college basketball. 

And you know what? This deal isn’t just big for him; it’s a game-changer for the entire NIL landscape. It’s not every day that a high school player lands such a massive deal, and AJ’s deal with Nike makes him as one of the most marketable young athletes out there.

When AJ was asked about the deal on the “Podcast P with Paul George,” you could feel his excitement as he expressed, “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 went on to explain how huge it was to join the Nike family, a dream come true for him as a kid watching his idols wear the brand. And if that wasn’t enough, the rushing is also associated with Red Bull, becoming the first male athlete to do so. He surpassed LeBron James’ son, Bryce James, in that regard. 

 In his words, “I partnered with Red Bull. Me and Red Bull are now partners. I think it was a great partnership coming. It’s gonna be beneficial for both of us. The platform that they have and I think we fit right in with each other. So it’s gonna be good.” On top of all of this, even college programs were ready to open up their checkbooks to land this prodigy. 

Colleges were ready to pay AJ Dybantsa big 

BYU, North Carolina, and Alabama all reportedly agreed to meet AJ’s asking price of around $5 million in NIL money. These powerhouse schools were willing to pay a high schooler an amount usually reserved for seasoned college athletes. This deal is believed to be the biggest for any college basketball player in history. The rumors were all around unless he announced his BYU commitment. 

But why all this attention? Well, the 6’9 forward is far from an ordinary recruit. He’s the No. 1 overall player in the 2025 class, and he reclassified to 2025 from 2026 without missing a beat. This guy is a matchup nightmare who can score from anywhere on the court. He can shoot from the outside, dominate in the lane, and his athleticism makes him a potential defensive leader as well.

It’s no wonder schools were lining up with huge offers. BYU’s ability to land him is a massive win for their program, especially since they haven’t had much success in the NCAA tournament in recent years. So, AJ Dybantsa is just getting started, and we’re already witnessing some groundbreaking moments. Let’s see where it goes from here!