DORCHESTER – It has been a hot minute since AJ Dybantsa stepped foot on a court in Massachusetts, but the nation’s top-ranked player in the class of 2025 didn’t wait long to look right at home.

The Brockton native transferred out to Prolific Prep in California after his freshman season at St. Sebastian’s and returned to rack up a game-high 25 points in his return in a 91-49 win over Orangeville Prep (Ontario, Canada) in an in-season matchup from The Grind Session.

Dybantsa came right out of the gates with the game’s first three points on a right wing three-pointer in a game where Prolific Prep never trailed.

Dybantsa shot 3-of-5 from behind the arc and shot 64 percent on 7-of-11 from the field along with nine rebounds and five assists.

Before the game, Dybantsa was at the Brockton Boys and Girls Club donating his time and mentioned that above anything else during his homecoming tour.

“I didn’t just come back here for two games as I wanted to give back to the community as well. They look up to me in Boston and Brockton so giving back meant so much to me,” said Dybantsa, who now travels to Springfield to face Montverde Academy (Fla.) this Sunday. “I went to (Prolific) as I met coach (Ryan Bernardi) and knowing that he went to BC High – there was an instant connection.”

At St. Sebastian’s, Dybantsa averaged 19.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game for the Arrows in 2022-23. In 21 games this season, the 6-foot-7 Dybantsa is averaging 20.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and four assists a game. The predicted first pick in the 2026 NBA draft is off to an electric start for Prolific Prep, shooting 55% from the field, 37% from beyond the arc, and is an 80% free-throw shooter.

After being named the Massachusetts Boys’ Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year in 2023, Dybantsa reclassified to the class of 2025 and now leads the No. 2 ranked team in the country.

Thursday’s highlights against Orangeville Prep won’t change those opinions and predictions.

In the second quarter, Dybantsa rattled off an amazing up and under score for the foul as Dybantsa had 14 points and five rebounds at the break and Prolific Prep was in control with a 45-23 lead before a capacity crowd at Boston College High School.

Dybantsa finished off his effort with a thunderous dunk and left at the 3:28 mark of the fourth quarter to a rousing applause from the standing-room only faithful.

In just as much of a homecoming, Prolific Prep’s Bernardi and assistant coach Carl Pierre are both graduates of BC High and were honored with their parents’ pre-game prior to tip-off.

“BC High is a special place and Carl was a special player and one of the best to play here. I was cut from the freshman team, so I have no experience on that floor, but I spent a lot of time in these gyms, spent a lot of time learning,” said Bernardi, who was named Coach of the Year in The Grind Session 2023 season. “So, to bring AJ back home and to bring our team from all over the world to this special place was a very cool moment for me, for Carl, and the Dybantsas and just really want to express our gratitude to BC High for allowing this to happen.”

Oliver Engen led Orangeville Prep with 18 points and was outstanding on both ends.

Dybantsa has 18 Division 1 offers from the top colleges in the nation, including Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas, USC, Auburn, as well as local schools Boston College, Providence College and UConn. There are rumors of playing in the NBA G-League next season as well, but Dybantsa promises things are just coming together.

“Keeping my options open, I have a couple visits set up and I’ll go from there. But right now – I have no clue,” said Dybantsa.