The Swoosh signs two of the top high school players in the country to NIL shoe deals ahead of their respective college — and eventual pro — careers.
Nike has signed AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 ranked male prospect of the Class of 2025, and Jerzy Robinson, the No. 1 ranked female player in the Class of 2026, as the company looks to land two leading future faces of the brand’s basketball business.
“Joining the Nike basketball family is huge,” said Dybantsa. “When I was asked, it was a no-brainer.”
A versatile 6-foot-8 forward from Brockton, Mass., Dybansta was named Massachusetts Gatorade State Player of the Year after just his freshman season of high school basketball. He now stars at Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif., where his all-around, position-less game and skills have experts projecting him as the potential future No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Earlier this summer, Dybantsa was spotted working out with several NBA stars, getting training tips from individual sessions with Nike Inc. signature athletes like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Paul George, and Chris Paul.
“Growing up, watching people that inspired me wear Nike — to now being part of the same team is an opportunity I don’t take for granted,” he added. “I can’t wait to see what we can mix up on and off the court.”
As the No. 1 ranked player in the Class of 2026, Jerzy Robinson has been dominating as a shifty-scoring sophomore guard. After being named Arizona Player of the Year as a freshman, she took her talents to Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles, where she’s been turning heads while pairing both the Grinch and Reverse Grinch colorways of the Kobe 6 together in games.
“I’m grateful to be a part of the Nike family and look forward to the exciting moments ahead,” said Robinson. “As a champion for women and girls on and off the court, I can’t wait to see all the amazing things we can do together.”
In addition to their high school team success, both Robinson and Dybantsa have also been leading the way for Nike-sponsored Team USA Basketball at the youth level.
Robinson helped steer Team USA to a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championships, while the Dybantsa-fronted Team USA U16 squad also captured a gold medal in the FIBA Americas Championship.
Both players are currently uncommitted for college, with the recruiting process recently ramping up. Robinson has already received at least ten college scholarship offers, from the likes of USC, UCLA, Arizona and others. Dybantsa currently holds offers from USC, Kentucky, North Carolina and several other schools.
As Nike continues to sign players to shoe deals under the new NIL marketing landscape, the brand’s impressive roster is beginning to take shape. Dybantsa joins USC’s Bronny James and Kentucky’s DJ Wagner as Nike athletes on the men’s side. Robinson joins an elite crew of female hoopers signed to Nike NIL deals that includes Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, USC’s Juju Watkins, and UConn’s Paige Bueckers.
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