Dybantsa’s timeline, expected commitments, more to watch this early signing period

A decade ago, the early signing period was one of the busiest weeks on the college basketball calendar. Elite prospects tended to build their recruitments around the window, visiting a handful of schools in the weeks leading up to it before announcing their commitment. There was signing day drama, the occasional flip, constant tracking to see which players opted not to send in an official letter of intent.

Now, it’s mostly an opportunity for previously committed players to have signing ceremonies at their high schools and for college programs to announce their completed classes.

But this week will include some intrigue. Two five-star guards in the ESPN 100 class of 2025 announced their commitments in recent days, and at least three more top-50 prospects are set to come off the board before the period is over on Nov. 20. And, there’s always the chance for a surprise commitment, as most of the top prospects we’re waiting on have already taken several visits, and know everything there is to know about their finalists.

To prepare you for all of the above, these are the storylines we’ll be following over the next week.

1. Top prospect A.J. Dybantsa moves up commitment timeline

After initially planning to announce his commitment in February, No. 1-ranked recruit A.J. Dybantsa is looking to end his recruitment ahead of schedule.

“The original plan was to commit in February,” Dybantsa told ESPN. “The visits stopped in October. We wanted to make sure we had enough time to see all the schools play. We are ahead of where we thought we would be. If I know where I want to go, why wait?

“It’s probably going to be in December. I feel I will be ready by then.”

Dybantsa is still considering Alabama, Auburn, BYU, North Carolina, Kansas and Kansas State. The 6-foot-9 wing isn’t done evaluating his remaining options, though.

“Since the start of the season, we’ve had a chance to see the teams play and will continue to watch games and speak with the coaches,” he said.

“We are observing how the coaches manage their teams, how they react when they have a lead or are behind, how they run their offense and whether their overall play style matches what they’ve communicated to us. My parents were able to join me on the visits, which was important. We experienced different environments and campus life. We have gathered a lot of information.”

2. Who’s left to commit — and why aren’t there more?

Including Dybantsa, seven top 12 prospects remain on the board. After this week, there will be another five or six top-50 players still available, and likely fewer than 30 uncommitted prospects in the ESPN 100. At this time last year, there were already 80 committed players, so we’re slightly behind the pace for this class. But, it’s still far fewer prospects, especially at the top, compared to several years ago.

The biggest change is the introduction of NIL and the transfer portal. The longer a recruit waits to commit, especially if he’s not considered one of the elite players in the country, the more competition he’ll have at his preferred school, both from a roster perspective and in terms of share of the salary cap. By the time March and April roll around, schools are focused almost entirely on the portal to rebuild their rosters.

3. Who’s expected to announce this week?

Right now, there are three top-50 players definitively scheduled to come off the board in the coming days. Kingston Flemings (No. 21), one of the best point guards in the country, will choose between Houston and Texas Tech. Kiyan Anthony (No. 36), the son of Carmelo Anthony, plans to announce his decision on his father’s “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast on Friday. Anthony is choosing between USC and his father’s alma mater, Syracuse. And there’s Sebastian Williams-Adams (No. 39), who will decide on Sunday between Auburn, Purdue, Oklahoma State and Vanderbilt.

That, of course, doesn’t preclude other players from making their announcements. Bryson Tiller (No. 26) could be poised to commit, while Davion Hannah (No. 22) also seems close to a decision. Most of the truly elite available prospects look likely to let their recruitments run past the signing period. The likes of Dybantsa, Koa Peat (No. 6) and Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 7) have taken most, if not all, of their visits.

4. Is there a battle brewing between John Calipari and his former school?

Among the coaches who switched schools during the spring’s carousel chaos, John Calipari and Mark Pope are currently having the most success on the high school recruiting trail. Both Arkansas and Kentucky have top-five recruiting classes entering the signing period: the Razorbacks have two top-10 guards in the fold, while Kentucky welcomes three top-40 prospects. Calipari and Pope are also engaged in a battle for No. 5 prospect Caleb Wilson, who has several schools still on his list — though Kentucky and Arkansas seem to be at the top of the pecking order. Wilson isn’t currently expected to commit this week.

5. Duke sits atop the class rankings; can anyone push the Blue Devils?

In a relatively common sight, Duke enters the early signing period with the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. The Blue Devils have a pair of five-star prospects in twins Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer, along with two top-35 prospects, Shelton Henderson and Nikolas Khamenia. But Duke doesn’t have the top spot sealed just yet. Arkansas and UConn — with its three top-25 recruits — aren’t too far behind. Can either of them close the gap? The Razorbacks or Kentucky landing Wilson would provide a strong argument and likely push Arkansas into the top spot. If the Blue Devils sign Nate Ament (No. 4), however, it’s going to be difficult for anyone to catch them.

6. Paul Biancardi’s immediate impact commitments

Cameron Boozer (No. 2, Duke): He has a college-ready frame and possesses incredible fundamentals and a high basketball IQ. His blend of footwork, passing and rebounding make him special. He’s the most accomplished recruit in the country with three state championships, three Peach Jam titles and two gold medals.

Darryn Peterson (No. 3, Kansas): The attacking guard has playmaking abilities but is known for his elite scoring acumen. He gets to the free-throw line at a very high rate, and his strength allows him to finish consistently through contact. Excellent in ball-screen situations.

Darius Acuff (No. 8, Arkansas): He thrives in the open floor and with the ball in his hands. He has become well-versed in ball-screen reads and can take a broken play and turn it into points quickly. With Calipari moving to a more guard-oriented lineup at Arkansas that plays faster, Acuff should fit perfectly.

Braylon Mullins (No. 24, UConn): Mullins had his choice of any school in the country and will bring dynamic shot-making ability to the Huskies. He understands shot selection, spacing and ball movement — and given Dan Hurley’s emphasis on misdirection, reading your defender and cutting without the ball, Mullins should make an immediate impact.

Jasper Johnson (No. 13, Kentucky): Johnson brings tremendous scoring ability to the Wildcats. Known as a dynamic offensive guard because he combines pure scoring instincts with a college-ready drive-and-kick game. As an in-state recruit that stayed home, he will have every opportunity to shine early in Lexington.