For AJ Dybantsa, basketball isn’t just his future—it’s a means of giving back to his roots. The 17-year-old basketball phenom, whose mother is Jamaican and father Congolese, returned to the island last weekend for a two-day visit filled with cultural connection and community outreach. Already a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and currently a freshman at Brigham Young University (BYU), Dybantsa used his visit to inspire local youth and support the Jamaica Basketball Association’s (JABA) renewed development efforts under the leadership of ambassador Cedella Marley.
“This isn’t my first time here,” said Dybantsa. “I’ve been to Jamaica about six times now. I love coming back. I’ll always be back.”
On Friday, May 9, AJ visited Dupont Primary and Whitfield Primary alongside his parents, Anicet “Ace” Dybantsa Sr. and Chelsea Dybantsa. They distributed gear to the schools’ basketball programmes and engaged with students, media, and staff. One of the most powerful moments came when AJ and his father lifted young students so they could dunk for the first time.
“Most of them had never dunked before,” AJ said. “Just seeing those smiles on their faces, hearing everyone cheer—that’s something I’ll never forget.”
Though the sessions weren’t structured games or clinics, AJ noted he saw potential in the youth.
“They were kind of young, but you could definitely see some talent,” he said. “They were doing layups, taking shots—you could tell the raw ability is there.”
That evening, during a mixer hosted by the JABA at the AC Hotel in Kingston, Dybantsa spoke emotionally about what Jamaica means to him and the importance of giving back.
“I still have a long way to go, but what I am doing is great for this country because my mom is from here and I have Jamaica in my heart,” he told the audience. “I’m always going to be half-Jamaican. I love coming back. I’ll always be back.”
To mark the occasion, AJ presented Cedella Marley with a Nike Hoop Summit jersey, symbolising his international ties and future promise.
“As a junior, I couldn’t play for the USA team since I was too young,” he explained. “So I played for the World—so you know what’s on the jersey.”
On Saturday, May 10, the outreach continued. AJ visited Jamaica College to support the Under-17 National Team training session, where he made gear presentations to male and female representatives, including players from St Catherine High School. From there, he toured the legendary Tuff Gong Studios before wrapping up the day at the Trench Town Community Court, further linking sport, music, and Jamaican heritage.
While this visit was focused on inspiration and donations, AJ made it clear he plans to do more.
“Next time I come back, I definitely want to do clinics and really help the kids get better,” he said. “Today was more about giving them shoes so they have what they need to even play. But the next step is skill development.”
When asked about potentially representing Jamaica on the court one day, he didn’t close the door.
“We don’t know what the future holds,” he said. “My mom’s Jamaican, so who knows? The U.S. is obviously a big option, but I’ll never rule anything out.”
Cedella Marley, who famously helped shepherd the Reggae Girlz to back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cup appearances, is now channelling that same energy into basketball—and sees AJ’s involvement as both inspirational and catalytic.
“Let’s give these young kids in Jamaica a shot—boys and girls,” Marley said at the mixer. “Let’s do it together. All of us.”
Together, AJ Dybantsa’s growing star and Cedella Marley’s proven leadership may be the perfect assist to launch Jamaica into basketball’s global conversation.