AJ Dybantsa Is Leaving BYU for the NBA and He's About to Change Everything

It's official. BYU's AJ Dybantsa declared for the 2026 NBA Draft on Thursday, and the basketball world just got a whole lot more interesting. The 6-foot-9 freshman made the announcement in his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts, at the Davis School where he spent his childhood. This kid is about to be somebody's lottery ticket, and the draft world is watching closely.

The Stats Are Absolutely Ridiculous

Let's talk numbers because they tell the whole story. Dybantsa led the entire nation with 25.5 points per game. His 894 points rank third all-time for a freshman in NCAA Division I history. He started all 35 games for the Cougars and shot 51.0% from the field and 33.1% from deep. Add in 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and you've got yourself a generational talent.

But here's the thing that really shows how special he is: on December 22, 2025, Dybantsa dropped 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against Eastern Washington. That's a 30/10/10 triple-double, something only one other player in Big 12 history has done. David Harrison pulled it off for Colorado back in 2002. Dybantsa just tied that club as a freshman.

He Broke Records Left and Right

The awards and honors came pouring in. He's a consensus first team All-American, made the All-Big 12 first team, and was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Before college, he was the top-ranked player in the high school Class of 2025. As a freshman at BYU, he broke 19 school records in a single season. That's not a typo. Nineteen.

The Draft Landscape is Getting Crowded

Dybantsa will likely be selected in the top three. He's got company at the summit though. Darryn Peterson from Kansas and Cameron Boozer from Duke are also potential No. 1 picks. The NBA Draft Lottery happens May 10 at 3 p.m. ET in Chicago to determine the selection order. The actual draft goes down June 23 and 24.

This is the start of something big. The lottery is coming, and one team is about to change their entire future.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.