Day after signing, AJ Dybantsa already playing role for BYU men's basketball

PROVO — A bit over 24 hours after committing to the BYU basketball program on ESPN television, AJ Dybantsa was in the Marriott Center, flashing prayer hands and a couple of shakas, and running toward the Cougars' student section to — at one point — jump into the ROC to sway to "Power" by Kanye West.

His dad Ace smiled as he looked on at his son, the 6-foot-9 five-star recruit with the projection of a No. 1 NBA draft pick, enjoying the tradition of a program in the toughest college basketball conference in the country.

The top-rated recruit in the Class of 2025 is still several months away from enrolling at the university. But for the BYU-bound jumbo wing, Dybantsa already showed he can fit in right at home.

The Cougars introduced Dybantsa at halftime of a 95-67 win over Fresno State, one made notable by the absence of five-star international freshman Egor Demin (knee contusion) and the presence of the first-ever five-star BYU commit out of an American high school behind BYU's bench.

Dybantsa was in town from Hurricane with Utah Prep getting ready to play Duncanville (Texas) at Holiday Hoopfest this weekend in Lehi. But the star wing with a 7-foot wingspan stopped by the Marriott Center to show love to his new home — and received just as much of it in return.

"It was just like a family atmosphere," Dybantsa told a small group of local media after the Cougars' win Wednesday night. "It was good to see everyone supporting me like that, and feeling the love."

The consensus No. 1 overall recruit in the country smiled and hurled jokes, no doubt unburdened as he no longer had to hold under cover of darkness the signing of a national letter of intent he made with BYU last month.

His recruitment is now over, and Dybantsa can focus on his senior year at Utah Prep, where he is playing with Washington-bound point guard JJ Mandaquit and four-star Class of 2026 forward Anthony Felesi, as well as getting ready for his like one-and-done college career in Provo.

But amid all the recruiting buzz, the flights to ESPN to make his announcement alongside a stunned Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe on "First Take," and the constant mentions, direct messages and inquiries on a social-media presence that has helped him already earn a seven-figure income through name, image and likeness, Dybantsa is still a teenager.

And most teenagers will admit they get tired of the constant recruiting grind.

"I was private for like a week," Dybantsa said of his initially silent commitment. "This feels way better — stress-free.

"I keep everything private, though," he added, with a smile.

Still a half-year away from enrolling, Dybantsa already has more people talking about BYU. In some ways, that kind of publicity and recruiting juice can be worth millions — perhaps even the reported $5 million in NIL that Dybantsa's business adviser told CBS Sports' Matt Norlander the five-star recruit was set to make from BYU's collective, and a deal that would be considered the largest of any college basketball player ever.

But that number wasn't BYU's only avenue to securing Dybantsa's commitment. Every school in his top four — including Alabama, Kansas and North Carolina — was up to that number. Something else, as well, had to stand out about the Cougars, rather than just money.

Something else had to bring Dybantsa to Provo instead of one of college basketball's blue bloods, to a place that has produced NBA draft picks but never one on the same level as Dybantsa — and a place where he'll be expected to live an honor code that excludes alcohol, tobacco or premarital sex, among other stipulations.

Of course, that last part also won't be much of a (if any) problem for Dybantsa, those closest to him say. He's got goals in mind — big goals that only the NBA can satisfy — and those other things would just be a distraction away from achieving those goals.

Dybantsa's commitment is a bit of an experiment, but one testing if the Cougars' first-year program that mimics an NBA training camp can continue to develop a prospect considered generational in nature — one that is not just a contender for the No. 1 overall pick in one draft class, but a future NBA all-star like Dybantsa is already being viewed.

"I think, especially for the staff, that's a big deal. There's no better place," said Richie Saunders, a junior and likely future teammate of Dybantsa. "Everything we do here is professional, like it's the NBA. I guess it's a really big deal. It's history for the school and I'm excited to hopefully get on the court with him next year."

Dybantsa, too, believes head coach Kevin Young, the former Phoenix Suns top assistant, and his varied staff of college and professional coaches, can help him achieve those goals.

"I saw it like a family," Dybantsa said. "Clearly, y'all see it. But I like what Kev is doing. It's a developmental program, an all-NBA staff, and a winning program. I think they're going to go far this year."

Related topics