NCAA official announcements and awards publications

No.1 Recruit AJ Dybantsa Commits to BYU Over Alabama, UNC, and Kansas

Dec 10, 2024, 03:47 PM

AJ Dybantsa, the top-ranked prospect in high school basketball and potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, has committed to Brigham Young University (BYU). Dybantsa chose BYU over other leading programs including Alabama, North Carolina, and Kansas. The announcement was made on ESPN's First Take on December 10, 2024. Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 small forward from Brockton, Massachusetts, is a Nike-sponsored athlete who signed a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal with Red Bull in October. He has worked out with NBA stars Kevin Durant and LeBron James in 2023. BYU's coach Kevin Young, who has an extensive NBA coaching background, was a significant factor in Dybantsa's decision. Don Showalter, USA Basketball Junior National Team coach, said, “A.J. has the attitude, skill, toughness and intelligence to be a high-level NBA player.” This commitment marks BYU's first acquisition of a five-star recruit in the modern recruiting era and is considered a historic moment for the program.