AJ Dybantsa vs. Nate Ament; Live game reactions and analysis
Boston, Massachusetts – The Grind Session is hosting Hurricane (UT) Prep Academy against Warrenton (VA) Highland School. This matchup features On3's No. 1 ranked player in 2025, 6-foot-9 wing AJ Dybantsa against player, 6-foot-9 wing Nate Ament .
Live Blog; Dybantsa vs. Ament– The game starts off with a good bit of anticipation. Nate Ament gets the opening tip and he goes right to work. Taking a one-on-one -iso and creating a clean look from straight on at about 15 feet. The ball came off the back rim and went to four-star point guard JJ Mandaquit from Utah Prep. Mandaquit pushes the break and finishes with a high-arching shot at the rim.. – Utah Prep 2, Highland 0
– Nate Ament is the first one between he and Dybantsa to get on the board. He follows his deep three from straight on with a two-dribble pull-up from the short corner. He now has eight points, showing touch and self creation. – Utah Prep 11, Highland 10
– Mandaquit knocks down his second consecutive three-pointer to give him eight for the game. This one was off the catch from the corner, and splashed nothing but the net. The four-star point guard is of to a hot start in this one. – Utah Prep 14, Highland 12
– AJ Dybantsa gets on the board with a smooth pull-up three from the left wing. So smooth, with a hesitation in his left hand and pulling up with it. –Utah Prep 17, Highland 15
End of 1Q; Utah Prep 22, Highland 17– JJ Mandaquit his playing with a lot of confidence coming out in the second quarter with six straight. He started with a dunk, followed that with a pull-up up and then a rim attack in the half-court. He is finding a matchup he likes and is going right at it. Utah Prep 26, Highland 19
– Dybantsa knocked down a three in the first quarter, but he has spent the second quarter aggressively attacking the basket. He has a layup in the half-court and a breakaway dunk at this point. He has also drawn a foul off a hard, straight-line drive going right. Utah Prep 32, Highland 19
– This has been a tough second quarter for Highland as Utah Prep has set their dominance. Dybantsa just ripped Ament at the top of the key and sprinted to the other end for a dunk. Dybantsa has guarded Ament for the better part of this first half with both having some successes. – Utah Prep 41, Highland 21
Halftime; Utah Prep 44, Highland 23For Utah Prep JJ Mandaquit leads all scorers with 16 points and AJ Dybantsa has 9 points (4-8 FG).
For Highland School Nate Ament leads the way with 11
– Dybantsa and Ament trade baskets to start the second half. Dybantsa is doing his work in the mid-range and mid-post. He just had a beautiful step through on an up and under, starting his move from about 15 feet out and finishing it at the rim. Ament did well to get into the mid-range as well, creating a clean look with a soft touch. – Utah Prep, 46, Highland 25
– Four-star wing Anthony Felesi has had a nice game, asserting himself on both ends of the floor. He has had multiple deflections on the defensive end as well as a couple of buckets in the half-court. Felesi has filled his role nicely, answering the call when his number is called so far. – Utah Prep 53, Highland 29
– Nate Ament and AJ Dybantsa are both showing why they are clear five-star prospects in this 2025 class. It is interesting watching them go against one another as their games are different. Dybantsa is scoring with power and decisiveness. Ament, while being aggressive, is showing more finesse. Using his counter dribbles and step-backs to create space Both players are high-caliber talents. – Utah Prep 55, Highland 38
– John Southwick for Utah Prep can really shoot the ball. Has knocked down multiple catch-and-shoot threes, spraying from across the three-line. Utah Prep 60, Highland 38
