Grind Session stars AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Mikel Brown, Jr. have been named three of the 10 semifinalists for the 2025 Naismith Boy’s High School Player of the Year award. They still have a month to make their case for the prestigious award, which will be presented to one winner on March 7, 2025.
First presented in 1987 and given annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to high school basketball’s top male and female player, the award is named after James Naismith, a Canadian-American physical education instructor best known for inventing the game of basketball. Previous winners include Kobe Bryant (1996), Lebron James (2003), Chris Webber (1991), Jason Kidd (1992), and Alonzo Mourning (1998), among other NBA superstars.
AJ Dybantsa: The Nation’s #1 Player
Dybantsa, who played for Prolific Prep last season before transferring to Utah Prep in the summer, is the consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Known for his scoring ability, athleticism, and high basketball IQ, the 6’9” small forward already has major NIL deals with Nike and Red Bull, and recently committed to play his college ball at BYU. The presumptive first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Dybantsa’s one-and-done path to the NBA is all but certain.
Darryn Peterson: Sharpshooter from Prolific Prep
Widely regarded as the country’s No. 2-ranked senior, Peterson is a 6’6” shooting guard whose dynamic scoring ability and leadership has been crucial for Prolific Prep this season. He’s committed to play for Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks and, like Dybantsa, is expected to be a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Peterson has NIL deals with Adidas and Fanatics. He was the first high school athlete to sign an NIL deal with Adidas.
Mikel Brown Jr.: The Florida Floor General
Rounding out the Grind Session players tabbed as Naismith High School Player of the Year semifinalists is Mikel Brown Jr., a 6’3” point guard who plays for DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida. He’s a consensus Top 10 recruit in the 2025 cycle. Known for his court vision and scoring ability, Brown announced his commitment to Louisville on New Year’s Day. Like Peterson, Brown has an NIL deal with Adidas, which sponsors Louisville.
Dybantsa, Peterson, and Brown were also recently selected to play in the 2025 McDonald’s All-American game on April 1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. They will represent Team West in the annual showcase for the nation’s top high school players.
