Cooper Flagg and AJ Dybantsa watched the Celtics throttle the Magic at TD Garden
Two of the nation's most prized basketball prospects, both of whom are from New England, were at the game Friday night.
The nation’s top overall high school basketball prospect, Brockton native AJ Dybantsa, was courtside during the Celtics’ pregame warmups Friday night.
He shook hands with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. He stood back-to-back with Orlando’s Paolo Banchero.
According to Celtics Wire, Brown had some words of encouragement for the 17-year-old star.
“Just keep working,” Dybantsa said of his conversation with Brown. “You’ll be here in a year.”
The BYU commitment made the trip back to Massachusetts for the Hoophall Invitational in Springfield this weekend. He plays for Utah Prep.
It’s the second trip to Massachusetts for Utah Prep this season. Dybantsa scored 19 points in a win over Highlands (Va.) High School at Emmanuel College in November.
The 6-foot-9, 210-pound forward is the most highly anticipated Massachusetts high school basketball prospect since Terrence Clarke, the former top-10 recruit who died in a car crash at age 19 in 2021.
“The last guy that we had besides Terrence was, like, Patrick Ewing — and that was 40 years ago,” Dybantsa told The Boston Globe in November. “I just want to be a guy that people know where Brockton is on the map. Everybody talks about the New Yorks of the world, the Cali’s of the world. But Mass. got some hoopers.”
Maine native Cooper Flagg, who is considered by many to be the top overall prospect in this upcoming NBA Draft, was also at the game. Duke is in town for a matchup with Boston College on Saturday night. Flagg and his teammates took a photo with Banchero after the game.
“It was great seeing those guys,” Banchero said. “They brought the whole program so I saw not only coach (Jon) Scheyer but strength coaches, training staff, all the players.”
“So, it was just good seeing them, always refreshing when I get to talk to them. That was the first time they watched me play in an NBA game, so wish I could have played better but it was just good seeing them, saying hi, and spending time with them.”
Between Flagg, Banchero, and Tatum, there was plenty of Duke representation on and off the court.
“I’m pretty close with (Banchero),” Tatum said. “Ever since his freshman year at Duke, we’ve established a relationship. I’ve been on record many times saying that. Love him as a person. A great competitor.
“The things that he’s done already in this league, and where he’s going to continue to keep going and his potential, everybody can see it. I know he loves the game. He works really hard at it. I’d venture to say that we’re going to be playing against each other and competing for a long time in this league.”
Tatum is 26. Banchero is 22. They’ve already established themselves as key players in the Eastern Conference.
On Friday night a pair of projected future top-three picks got to watch them face off.
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