AJ Dybantsa Is Declaring for the NBA Draft and He Could Be Gone in Minutes
BYU's AJ Dybantsa made it official Thursday. The 6-foot-9 forward announced he's entering the 2026 NBA Draft, and there's zero chance he's still on the board past the opening stretch. He made the announcement in his hometown of Brockton, Mass., at the Davis School where he grew up, which is exactly the kind of move a future top-three pick makes.
He Had a Freshman Season Nobody in College Basketball Will Forget
The top-ranked player out of the high school Class of 2025, Dybantsa put together one of the most dominant freshman campaigns we've ever seen. He led the entire nation with 25.5 points per game across 35 starts. His 894 total points rank third all-time for a freshman in NCAA Division I history. And this kid did it efficiently: 51.0% from the field, 33.1% from three.
🎲 Want to Make Tonight's Game More Interesting?
Kalshi lets you trade on real sports outcomes — not just spreads. It's the only federally regulated prediction market in the US, and it's available right here in Washington state.
New users get a FREE $10 just for signing up — no deposit required to claim it.
👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThe awards piled up. Consensus first team All-American. All-Big 12 first team. Big 12 Freshman of the Year. He broke 19 BYU freshman season and single-game records. This wasn't just a good year. This was a landmark year.
That Triple-Double Moment Changed the Conversation
On December 22, 2025, Dybantsa went full superstar mode against Eastern Washington: 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists. That made him only the second player in Big 12 history to record a 30/10/10 triple-double. David Harrison did it for Colorado back in 2002. That's the level Dybantsa is operating at right now.
He averaged 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game to go with that ridiculous scoring average. The complete package.
Now Comes the Waiting Game
Dybantsa will watch the NBA Draft Lottery on May 10 at 3 p.m. ET in Chicago as the selection order gets finalized. He's expected to hear his name called early. Really early. Fellow freshmen Darryn Peterson of Kansas and Cameron Boozer of Duke are also potential No. 1 overall picks, but Dybantsa's numbers and accolades put him in that conversation too.
The draft itself goes down June 23 and 24. That's when your next NBA superstar gets announced.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about .
View X conversation →DFS Pick'em
🏆 Underdog Fantasy: Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries
Use code ONTAP to lock in this offer.
👉 Claim your $50 bonus on Underdog FantasySponsored. Must be 18+. Terms apply.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.