AJ Dybantsa, the top college basketball recruit in the class of 2025, announced his commitment to BYU on Tuesday’s episode of ESPN’s “First Take.”
“A lot stood out during my visit,” Dybantsa said. “Of course, coach Kevin Young there. My ultimate goal is to go to the NBA. He coached my favorite player of all time, Kevin Durant, and he had high praise for him. When I visited, I was head coach all the way down to the analytics guy, the analytics guy all the way to the dietitian are all NBA personnel, even the strength coach.
“If it’s all NBA, I’ll try to get to the NBA. I think this will be the best development program for me.”
KOOP head coach Kevin Young was an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns before taking the BYU job in April.
The Cougars were one of the final four options for the 6-foot-4 forward out of Utah Prep Academy, which also included Alabama, Kansas and North Carolina. All four schools were aware that Dybantsa will likely be a one-and-done as he is projected to be a top pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
BYU hasn’t had an NBA draft pick since Jimmer Fredette was taken No. 10 overall in 2011.
Dybantsa, who turns 18 in January, is currently ranked higher than Cameron Boozer, a Duke commit and son of former NBA player Carlos Boozer, and Darryn Peterson, who will play for Kansas.
“When Dybantsa is on the court, especially in 5-on-5 action, it’s hard to focus on anyone else,” wrote Dybantsa’s Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports after a USA basketball mini-camp last year. “He has great height with his 6-9 frame and makes long strides with the ball in his hands, covering a lot of ground in a short time. He moves better off the ball and because he is such a skilled scorer, it opens.” increases the distance on the field for his teammates.
When asked who he models his game after, Dybantsa said he sees himself as a combination of Tracy McGrady and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Dybantsa, who has NIL deals with Red Bull and Nike, started his high school career at St. Sebastian’s in Massachusetts, where he was named the state’s player of the year. He then moved to Prolific Prep in Napa, California, for his sophomore season before settling on Utah Prep Academy and transferring from the high school class of 2026 to the high school class of 2025.
