Projected #1 pick AJ Dybantsa commanded the brightest object in our solar system - dunking, shooting and palming the setting sun at Angels Gate Park in San Pedro, Calif.
The recent shoot required precise timing, choreography, and trust between athlete and photographer to align perfectly with the moving sun, creating a powerful visual metaphor for Dybantsa’s rising presence in basketball as the next orbital force in the hoops universe that everything revolves around.
The concept continues a series photographer Dustin Snipes first made famous in 2015 with former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis dunking the sun - ironically a potential new teammate of Dybantsa’s with the Wizards.
WHO IS AJ DYBANTSA?
Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 forward from Brockton, Massachusetts, is widely considered the top prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft after a standout season at BYU and an international résumé that includes MVP honors at the FIBA U19 World Cup. His combination of size, versatility and skill has positioned him as the leading candidate to become the next face of the league.
Projected #1 pick AJ Dybantsa commanded the brightest object in our solar system - dunking, shooting and palming the setting sun at Angels Gate Park in San Pedro, Calif.
The recent shoot required precise timing, choreography, and trust between athlete and photographer to align perfectly with the moving sun, creating a powerful visual metaphor for Dybantsa’s rising presence in basketball as the next orbital force in the hoops universe that everything revolves around.
The concept continues a series photographer Dustin Snipes first made famous in 2015 with former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis dunking the sun - ironically a potential new teammate of Dybantsa’s with the Wizards.
WHO IS AJ DYBANTSA?
Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 forward from Brockton, Massachusetts, is widely considered the top prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft after a standout season at BYU and an international résumé that includes MVP honors at the FIBA U19 World Cup. His combination of size, versatility and skill has positioned him as the leading candidate to become the next face of the league.