Every year the game of basketball repeats a cycle where stars are born and veterans say their final goodbye. Seeing Carmelo Anthony and Andre Iguodala decide to hang it up this year was a reminder of how fast time moves. In 2017 I started this series to highlight players that I expected to take a leap at different levels. Without further ado, let me tap into the high school level with AJ Dybantsa.
This 16 year old 6'9 small forward has been rapidly rising up the ranks over the last few months. Dybansta who originally was expected to be part of the 2026 class recently reclassified to 2025. He is currently playing for Prolific Prep which is also where Gary Trent Jr. and Jalen Green once played. This summer he led the 17U Division of the Nike Peach Jam with 25.8 points per game along with 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Prior to that impressive showing on the Nike circuit the 5 star recruit led Team USA to gold in the FIBA U16 division. Currently he plans to attend college and recently took an official visit to USC. He currently has offers from Connecticut, Michigan, Georgetown and many other colleges. He's been taken under the wing of NBA players such as Paul George, Steph Curry, and LeBron James. The sky's the limit for this young man who is capable of doing pretty much anything on the basketball court.
Isaiah Collier enters this season as the CBS pick for freshman of the year. The All-American game MVP that was also the Georgia Gatorade player of the year is in position to take advantage of the media spotlight USC will have due to being teammates with Bronny James. He's an aggressive 6'5 guard that constantly puts pressure on the rim protectors by driving the ball. His strong build allows him to absorb contact that most guards cannot withstand. One feature of his game that stands out to me is his court vision. Collier can draw a double team and find the open man with ease. He’s a projected top 5 pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
The Big East Freshman of the Year somehow managed to slip to the 20th pick in the draft and made everyone pay for it in Summer League. Coming into his rookie season, the former Villanova Wildcat will be looking to establish his spot in the Rockets rotation throughout the season. He’s active on both ends of the floor and his 40 inch vertical makes him a highlight threat every second he’s on the floor. I expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder and show flashes of something special. At 6’7 and 235 lbs he slashes like a 6’2 combo guard with raw power. He will be a great project for Ime Udoka to mold at this point of his career.
Jaden McDaniels has become one of my favorite defenders in the entire league. Now that he’s
locked in long term with his new 5 year 136 million dollar extension the next step is earning a spot
on an All-Defensive Team. Personally, I thought he should have made the 2nd team last season. He’s
very agile with elite timing so when that is factored in with his 7ft wingspan it’s a rough night for any
ball handler in the league. He’s amazing at anticipating passes, dodging screens, and forcing
opponents away from their intended direction. It’s not a glamorous job but he’s the key to unlocking
the defensive potential of the T’Wolves.
