This summer, the USA men's basketball team captured their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal, led by the three pillars of a generation of NBA basketball: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. All three players are considered among the top 12–15 players in the history of this illustrious game. With James, Curry, and Durant at the tail end of their careers, who is the next guy who can be "The Face" of the American-born star to represent USA Basketball and the NBA?
There are a few players who can potentially clamor for that spot down the line, whether that's the Minnesota Timberwolves' young polarizing superstar Anthony Edwards, the exhilarating Memphis Grizzlies' high-flying guard Ja Morant, or perhaps even the potential No. 1 pick in a projected loaded 2025 NBA Draft in incoming freshman Cooper Flagg.
These are not bad options to have. Edwards is coming off winning his first gold medal this summer at just 23, Morant (if he can stay healthy and out of trouble) is the most exciting player in the league, and Flagg is the best American prospect since Anthony Davis in 2012.
With all that being said, that's still not including Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder or Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic. But there's this one phenom in high school that scouts call a generational talent; some have said it's a KD-Giannis-Paul George combo: A.J. Dybantsa.
Dybantsa is the No. 1 recruit in a loaded 2025 class and is the consensus favorite to go No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft. He'll attend Utah Prep for his senior season after playing for St. Sebastians in his hometown, Brockton, Massachusetts, during his freshman season before taking his talents to Prolific Prep the following year.
Let's get into why he has the chance to become the face of American basketball.