A.J. Dybantsa, projected top pick in ’26 NBA draft, signs with BYU

A.J. Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 wing participant who’s the No. 1 prospect in highschool basketball and the projected No. 1 choose within the 2026 NBA draft, introduced his dedication to BYU on Tuesday morning.

Dybantsa, who made his announcement on ESPN’s “First Take,” selected the Cougars over Alabama, North Carolina and Kansas. He turns into the primary five-star recruit to decide to BYU for the reason that ESPN recruiting database started in 2007.

“At BYU, the entire workers from the top coach on down got here from the NBA,” Dybantsa informed ESPN. “Head coach Kevin Younger coached my favourite participant in KD [Kevin Durant] and coached Devin Booker. Each had quite a lot of good issues to say about him. We watched clips of each.”

Dybantsa formally signed with BYU through the early signing interval, sources informed ESPN, however did not make his determination public till Tuesday. The varsity obtained his papers within the last hours of the signing interval, which ended November 20.

BYU had positioned itself towards the highest of Dybantsa’s listing shortly after Younger, the Cougars’ new head coach, took over final spring. Younger flew to satisfy Dybantsa’s dad and mom through the NBA playoffs final spring when he was nonetheless on the Phoenix Suns’ workers after which hosted Dybantsa for a go to in late June. Dybantsa additionally took his last official go to to BYU’s campus in October.

Dybantsa persistently pointed to all of the NBA ties at BYU — even this system’s energy and conditioning coach, Michael Davie, was with the Milwaukee Bucks and the director of diet, Danielle LaFata, got here from the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury.

“Coach Younger’s NBA background performed an enormous think about my determination,” Dybantsa stated. “He got here from the NBA. He coached NBA gamers. You can’t get any nearer to the place I wish to be.”

A number of different colleges have been concerned through the course of, with Kansas State internet hosting Dybantsa in late August earlier than failing to make his last listing of 4. He additionally visited Kansas, Alabama and North Carolina — together with his father, Ace, attending final week’s Alabama vs. North Carolina recreation in Chapel Hill.

“This was a troublesome determination,” Dybantsa stated. “The toughest half in regards to the recruiting course of is after each go to you wish to go to that faculty.”

Dybantsa, initially from Massachusetts, transferred from Prolific Prep (California) to Utah Prep (Utah) over the summer time, and was initially a member of the 2026 highschool class earlier than reclassifying to 2025 in October 2023. He was the No. 1 prospect in 2026 and maintained that standing upon his transfer to 2025.

He has been probably the most prolific scorers within the nation all through his highschool basketball profession, profitable Gatorade Participant of the Yr honors for Massachusetts in 2022-23. Regardless of taking part in up an age group on the Nike Peach Jam in the summertime of 2023, he led the occasion in scoring, averaging 25.8 factors. Final spring, he averaged 22.6 factors, 6.8 rebounds and three.0 assists, taking pictures 51.9% from the ground and 36.7% from 3-point vary — then adopted it up in the summertime with 23.1 factors en path to main the Oakland Troopers to the Peach Jam championship recreation.

Dybantsa has additionally been a fixture with USA Basketball, profitable gold medals at each the 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup. He began all six video games on the U16 stage, averaging 13.7 factors and three.8 assists, then began all seven video games on the U17 stage, placing up 14.1 factors, 3.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists.

Dybantsa is the epitome of the modern-day NBA wing, possessing measurement, ability and explosiveness. He can play a number of positions, creating mismatches regardless of being simply 17 years outdated. He shines as an aggressive attacking wing, however can flip right into a playmaker and provoke offense for teammates. His scoring is handiest within the midrange, as most can’t problem or contest towards his measurement and excessive launch. He’s a troublesome shotmaker who has elevated his 3-point share and likewise has the flexibility to complete by contact on the rim and get to the free throw line. Defensively, he can block pictures with a fast second leap and is able to switching on the perimeter.

Younger now has to encompass Dybantsa with sufficient expertise to make BYU nationally aggressive throughout his one season in Provo.

“The purpose is to win a nationwide championship,” he stated. “Individually their plan is to make me NBA-ready, the No. 1 general draft choose. They’ll assist me with my 3-point shot and put me in several spots that I might play within the NBA.”

The star wing is the third member of the Cougars’ 2025 recruiting class, becoming a member of ESPN 100 heart Xavion Staton (No. 34) and four-star massive man Chamberlain Burgess. BYU has solely 4 seniors on this yr’s roster, however the Cougars may additionally lose projected lottery choose Egor Demin and first-round choose Kanon Catchings.