No. 1 prospect's Spurs wish continues to prove tide has turned in San Antonio

The number one high school prospect in the nation, A.J. Dybantsa, declared his intent to enroll at BYU after being highly coveted by the top schools in the country. The announcement was made on ESPN's First Take, where the choice shocked viewers everywhere. With offers from more prestigious programs like North Carolina and Kansas, he opted for an alternate path, with good reason.

Dybantsa is focused on his ultimate goal: to play in the NBA. In order to do that, he chose a staff with plenty of NBA experience, and Brigham-Young University (BYU) has that under head coach Kevin Young.

Instead of focusing on the hype of a big school, he chose the path that would suit his future the best, and that's the type of player the Spurs love. He's projected as the top pick in the 2026 NBA draft, so it's unlikely San Antonio will have a shot at him, but interestingly enough, he says that he would love to play for the Silver and Black.

The Wembanyama effect is having a real impact in San Antonio

Last season, ESPN's Brian Windhorst drew the ire of doubters everywhere when he suggested players would begin expressing a desire to play in San Antonio. They just don't believe players want to play in SA. But Victor Wembanyama is a huge draw, looking like the biggest Hall-of-Fame lock since LeBron James. Dybantsa mentioned the Alien by name when asked about why he chose the Spurs.

"You watch the film." He said confidently to Stephen A. Smith before asking, but also stating, "How you think me and Wemby will play?" The look on Smith's face suggested he was gobsmacked by the notion of such a combination.

Some of you may not be familiar with the young man's game, and to be honest, neither was I. Recently, I did a dive into his skillset, and what you get is a 6'9 forward who can play on or off the ball as a playmaker, shot creator, and penetrating hooper with the ability to finish with power and hound opponents on defense. He's the perfect archetype for what teams want right now.

Cooper Flagg is beloved because of his versatility on the court, and Dybantsa has similar capabilities—and they're the same size. Getting him to San Antonio would take the sort of fortune that only happens in fictional stories. The Spurs have the right to a first-round pick swap with Atlanta in the 2026 NBA Draft, but it's hard to imagine them being that bad next season based on how they look now.

SA has their own pick, of course, but they won't be bad enough to get that spot, either. But it's fun to dream. When you look at how many players have outwardly expressed interest in playing with Wemby since his arrival, it confirms what we hoped to be true. San Antonio is becoming an NBA destination city, and we have the Alien to thank for that.

Watch the whole segment below!