AJ Dybantsa chooses…BYU?! He breaks his fit in Provo, beyond
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AJ Dybantsa chooses…BYU?! He breaks his fit in Provo, beyond

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

December 10, 2024, 12:02 pm ET

The No. 1 prospect in high school basketball is off the board – and going to BYU.

AJ Dybantsa, who is also the overwhelming favorite to be selected No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft, chose the Cougars over Alabama, North Carolina and Kansas. Despite Dybantsa’s top status and the strong programs against BYU, there has been relatively little drama surrounding his recruitment in recent months. The Cougars emerged as summer favorites and fended off late pushes from the opposition to secure Dybantsa’s signing.

He is the first five-star prospect to commit to BYU since ESPN’s recruiting database began in 2007, and his commitment moves the Cougars into the top 10 of the 2025 recruiting class rankings.

How did the top player in the country end up in Provo, Utah? And what makes him so interesting to NBA front offices?

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Paul Biancardi and Jonathan Givony break down Dybantsa’s game, his impact at the next level and what his commitment means to the schools involved.

Why BYU?

Dybantsa was a priority target for Young and his staff almost immediately after he was hired last spring. The BYU coach met with Dybantsa’s parents a few weeks after taking the job and then welcomed Dybantsa for a visit in early June. Young’s experience with the NBA team appealed to Dybantsa, as did his work with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

It would also be naive to discount the role NIL played in securing Dybantsa’s commitment. He would have made millions on any of his finalists, but BYU has as deep pockets as anyone else – and Young made no bones about it when he got the job last April, saying: “There won’t be many things who do this.” Hold us back here… I haven’t heard “no” very often.

But Dybantsa alone won’t make BYU a national championship — Young and his staff need to go out now and surround Dybantsa with enough talent to ensure his one-year stint in Provo isn’t a waste. The Cougars will lose four seniors from this year’s team and will also likely say goodbye to projected lottery pick Egor Demin and potential first-round pick Kanon Catchings.

Top-50 recruit Xavion Staton is a start. He should have an immediate impact on defense and provide more interior depth. Starters Richie Saunders, Dallin Hall and Keba Keita are also expected to be back. Additionally, BYU needs to go big in the spring, whether in the transfer portal, internationally or with available high school prospects. It’s promising that Young and his staff were able to sign Demin and Catchings last offseason in May and June, respectively. — Borzello

How does Dybantsa fit into BYU’s system?

Dybantsa’s versatility fits Young’s NBA-focused plan perfectly. The Cougars have a five-out offense that should lead to a lot of looks at the rim and from beyond the arc, where Dybantsa has gotten better this season. Young coached Kevin Durant and Devin Booker as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns, so he understands how to incorporate the elite middle game — remember, Dybantsa has thrived in the middle — with BYU’s speedy hitters and halfcourt actions. Dybantsa is a terror, leading the break in the open field and in one-on-one games in the half court. At 6’3″ tall with great verticality and energy, you can expect him to be a multi-positional defender with some outstanding defensive efforts.

The boys can surround Dybantsa with the right pieces for success: big man Keba Keita will return and free Dybantsa with hard screens both on and off the ball. Junior Dallin Hall will be the primary point guard and assist maker, and 3-point shooter Richie Saunders (39.5%) will also be back. Committed fellow Xavion Staton, an ESPN 100 recruit who is one of the best shot blockers in the country, and four-star prospect Chamberlin Burgess will help bring things together. — Biancardi

What makes Dybantsa the favorite to be No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft?

Every NBA team is looking for a winger in Dybantsa’s mold: a 6-foot-1, long-armed, primary shot-maker who tirelessly scores from isos, pick-and-rolls and transitions, can play at a high level and brings uninterrupted play Intensity on defense.

He has excellent footwork, body control and pace when operating from triple threat, he deftly changes speed with long strides to check one-on-one, finishes creatively in the lane, often seeks contact and creates causes wherever he plays, numerous fouls.

His role model is highly coveted in the NBA and for that reason he is currently the favorite to take No. 1. However, the matter is far from a done deal and he will have significant competition for that spot from the likes of Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer. He will have to earn that title with a productive season at BYU. — Givony

What does the NBA want to see from him in college?

A win would be a great start – it shows he can be the focal point of a BYU team that goes deep into the NCAA Tournament. It would also go a long way if he found some consistency in his outside shooting, shot selection and decision making.

His pursuit of scoring chances and his aggressive playing style (not always particularly aesthetic) have hindered his efficiency in the past. It will be interesting to see what version of him we get in college: the ball-stopping, sometimes ferocious decision-maker who has historically been very determined from beyond the arc (30%), or the more controlled, highly team-oriented player. oriented player we have seen in US Basketball. This version of Dybantsa was generally unstoppable at the FIBA ​​U17 World Cup last summer.

He will be training at BYU and will be given a long leash to explore the depths of his talent. I expect him to have a fantastic season and make significant progress on both ends of the floor within the structure he is tasked with taking over. — Givony

What’s next for the teams that missed Dybantsa?

There was a brief period over the weekend when it looked like a school other than BYU – which had been the favorite since the summer – might win Dybantsa, with the Alabama Crimson Tide making a big splash late and the North Carolina Tar Heels hanging around . But both teams failed. So where do they turn next?

Alabama is losing at least five seniors — including three starters — and freshman Derrion Reid could also be testing the NBA Draft waters. The Crimson Tide already have top-25 recruit Davion Hannah on the roster, and their biggest remaining targets are five-star guards Mikel Brown Jr. and Brayden Burries.

Depending on how the rest of the season goes, North Carolina could have a lot of important things to do at the end of the season. But the Tar Heels still have their sights set on a big fish: elite forward Caleb Wilson. A decision may not be too far away, and they’re at the top of his list.

The Kansas Jayhawks never seemed to have much of a chance with Dybantsa down the stretch, and the Jayhawks have already signed No. 2 overall recruit Darryn Peterson for 2025. AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen are also expected to return on the wings, meaning Self could be well-stocked on the edge before the portal opens. — Borzello

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