While the 2024-25 college basketball season is still in its early stages, it’s never too early to look ahead. On Tuesday, the biggest prospect in college basketball’s 2025 recruiting class took to ESPN’s “First Take” to announce where he’ll be playing next season.
AJ Dybantsa, the consensus top prospect in this year’s senior class, announced his commitment to BYU. Dybantsa chose the Cougars over his other final three choices of Alabama, Kansas and North Carolina.
Dybantsa is a native of Brockton, Mass. but is spending his senior season at Utah Prep in Hurricane, Utah. His college decision means he’ll stay in the Beehive State, traveling 250 miles northeast to Provo, Utah.
Here’s more on Dybantsa’s decision to attend BYU.
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Why did AJ Dybantsa commit to BYU?
Simply put, BYU’s basketball program is entering a new era of excitement. Dybantsa’s commitment adds to the momentum that’s been building over the past year.
It’s been over a dozen years since Jimmer Fredette dazzled during his time with the Cougars but the program entered a new era in 2024 when it hired longtime NBA assistant coach Ryan Young to a lucrative contract. Shortly after adding Young, BYU signed Russian five-star recruit Egor Demin to be one of the program’s featured players in 2024-25.
The people believed to be behind it all are Jazz executives and BYU alums Ryan Smith and Danny Ainge, both of whom are doing their part to boost their alma mater in the new era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Smith is a co-founder of Qualtrics, the Jazz majority governor and is worth $2.2 billion, according to Forbes.
AJ Dybantsa NIL valuation
With that in mind, Dybantsa’s financial package is reportedly in the $7 million range. That BYU was willing — and able — to put together such a package speaks volumes about the caliber of player Dybantsa is.
Choosing BYU is much more than a business decision, however. Dybantsa’s athleticism and talent are through the roof and he now has a head coach with an NBA background. Under Young, Dybantsa can polish his game to be NBA-ready, as most expect him to head to the league after next season.
“A lot stood out on my visit … my ultimate goal is to get to the NBA,” Dybantsa said on ESPN. “[Young] coached one of my favorite players of all time — Kevin Durant.
“I think it’s going to be the best development program for me.”
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AJ Dybantsa scouting report
Dybantsa is a 6-9, 210-pound small forward who has been in the spotlight for years. He was born on Jan. 29, 2007, and was originally a member of the 2026 recruiting class before reclassifying to graduate high school in 2025.
As evidenced by his measurables, Dybantsa is a jumbo wing player. He pairs his size with elite strength and athleticism, allowing him to score at will. While still developing, Dybantsa’s bag consists of a mixture of shifty moves that allow him to create space for jumpers or get past defenders to show off his bounce.
After announcing his commitment, Dybantsa described his game as a blend of Tracy McGrady and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Dybantsa’s pro-ready body has called many to question whether or not he is ready for the NBA as a high school senior. He’s no stranger to that level of competition, having already shared the floor to work out and play alongside future Hall of Famers Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Chris Paul.
Impressive as Dybantsa’s game is, he will be tested when he takes the floor next season in the Big 12. BYU’s conference foes include perennial power Kansas and the ever-physical Houston, among other strong squads.
He’ll continue to develop during his senior season at Utah Prep and quickly transition to the college game as soon as he steps foot on BYU’s campus. He has the potential to take the squad even further than it went during Fredette’s days.
