AJ Dybantsa Named Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Basketball Player of the Year

We are proud to announce that on Tuesday, March 15, Arrows varsity basketball player AJ Dybantsa '26 was named the 2022-23 Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Basketball Player of the Year. As the most prestigious award in high school sports, Gatorade Player of the Year honors the most elite high school student-athletes in 12 varsity sports for their athletic excellence, academic achievement, and exemplary character. As Massachusetts’ honoree for 2022-23, AJ joins the ranks of past Gatorade State Players of the Year, including LeBron James and Jayson Tatum. In addition, he is now eligible for the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award. 

This past season, the 6-foot-8 freshman forward led Arrows basketball to a 26-2 record and to the NEPSAC Class A title game. He averaged 19.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game and shot 60.8 percent from the field, including 41 percent on 3-point attempts. He was an ISL First Team All-Conference selection and is rated among the nation’s top prospects in the Class of 2026.  

Head Varsity Basketball Coach, Dave Hinman extols AJ as an "unselfish superstar" whose success is not limited to the court. In the Coach's words, "not only is AJ a highly skilled player, but he also represents all the values we hope to instill in St. Sebastian's student-athletes." Headmaster Burke had similar words of praise saying: "An earnest, honest, ever-improving student of faith and honor, AJ has earned the respect, admiration, and affection of his peers and mentors. Genuinely happy for the success of others, he’s the first person to congratulate a teammate for a good play."  

Being a Gatorade Player of the Year, AJ will receive a grant to give to one of Gatorade’s social impact partners of his choice, supporting Gatorade’s ambition to fuel the future of sport. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations. 

Congratulations to AJ, his family, his teammates, the coaching staff, and the entire athletic department on this great achievement.