PROVO, Utah — AJ Dybantsa, the top prospect expected to be selected first in the 2026 NBA draft, officially declared his commitment to Brigham Young University (BYU) on Tuesday. This announcement was made during his appearance on ESPN’s “First Take.” Dybantsa opted for the Cougars over strong contenders like Alabama, North Carolina, and Kansas, making him the first five-star recruit from the United States to join BYU.
The opportunity to play under new head coach Kevin Young was a significant factor in Dybantsa’s decision. He noted the impressive NBA backgrounds of Young and his coaching team, highlighting Young’s experience with basketball icons like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker as influential in his choice to become a Cougar.
“My ultimate goal is to get to the NBA,” Dybantsa expressed during the show. “After visiting, I realized that everyone involved, from the head coach to the analytics staff to the dietitian, has NBA experience, including the strength coach. Given that I aim to reach the NBA, I believe this is the ideal environment for my development.”
Kevin Young, who previously served as the associate head coach for the Phoenix Suns, took over the BYU program in April after Mark Pope left for Kentucky. Young aims to transform BYU into a premier development ground for aspiring NBA players.
The Cougars are showing promise in this regard, with projected lottery pick Egor Demin leading the team in scoring and assists this season. Another notable freshman, Kanon Catchings, is also predicted to be a late first-round pick in various NBA mock drafts.
With Dybantsa’s announcement, Coach Young has successfully recruited the three highest-rated prospects in BYU history. “AJ is a generational talent,” Young stated in a release on Tuesday. “He is a dedicated individual with a strong desire to excel as a player. His all-around skills and playmaking ability will integrate perfectly into our game plan.”
Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 forward, has proven himself as a leading scorer at the high school level. In 2023, he was awarded Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts and played a crucial role in Team USA’s success, earning gold medals at both the 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup.
Alongside Dybantsa, BYU is attracting attention with its 2025 recruiting class, which features top-50 recruit Xavion Staton, a 7-foot center from Las Vegas, and Chamberlain Burgess, a 6-foot-9 four-star forward from American Fork, Utah.
