The 6-foot-9 forward was also named to the Big 12 Starting Five after averaging 27.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game in wins over Clemson and UC Riverside.

In the Cougars’ comeback victory over Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden, Dybantsa scored 22 of his career-high 28 points in the second half, helping BYU erase a 22-point deficit before Robert Wright III’s game-winning 3-pointer at the Buzzer.

The Brockton, Mass. native outscored the Tigers after halftime, 22-21, as he went 7-of-11 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. He also had seven rebounds, four of those on the offensive glass and five assists after halftime.

He followed that up with 26 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals in BYU’s 100-53 win over UC Riverside on Saturday evening at the Marriott Center. He became the first freshmen to have 25/5/5/5 since Colorado State’s Isaiah Stevens went for 26 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and five steals in a triple overtime victory over Tulsa on Dec. 21, 2019.

In the win over the Highlanders, Dybantsa also became the second freshman in program history to score 200 or more points in their first 10 games as a Cougar. His 209 points through 10 contests are second only to Danny Ainge’s 215.

BYU returns to the court on Tuesday, Dec. 16, when the Cougars host Pacific at the Marriott Center. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

Grimes garners All-American honors

WACO, Texas — BYU senior long snapper Garrison Grimes was today named Second-Team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association. Selected by the football coaches since 1945, the AFCA All-America team is one of the five selectors for the NCAA Consensus All-America team.

Grimes is the first long snapper in BYU history to receive All-America recognition.

A 6-2, 220-pound redshirt senior from American Fork, Utah, Grimes appeared in all 13 games for the No. 12 ranked Cougars and was perfect on the year in a combined 114 snaps.

In mid-November, Grimes was named a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, presented annually to the top long snapper in college football. He is the first BYU long snapper to be named a semifinalist for the Mannelly Award in its seven-year existence and the only Big 12 long snapper to earn the accolade in 2025.

Grimes played a big role in BYU’s kicking and punting success throughout the 2025 season. He was perfect on a combined 76 field goal and point after touchdown snaps, as well as 38 punt attempts for the Cougars during the season.

Senior All-Big 12 kicker Will Ferrin led the conference in scoring with 113 points, converting 22-of-29 field goal attempts while making 39 of 39 extra points to extend his BYU record of consecutive PATs made streak to 118.

BYU punter Sam Vander Haar was also the beneficiary of Grimes’ efficient snapping. The junior punter was twice named a Ray Guy Award Ray’s 8 honoree during the 2025 season. Grimes set Vander Haar up for a 42.5 average with 13 punts downed inside the opponents 20-yardline and 19 fair caught.

Prior to coming to BYU, Grimes appeared in 31 games as the long snapper at Baylor from 2020-22, where he handled snapping duties for punts, field goals and PATs, while tallying two tackles on special teams. In 2023, Grimes recovered two fumbles in the same game against Texas. Garrison is the son of Jeff Grimes, former BYU offensive coordinator and offensive line coach and current offensive coordinator at Wisconsin.

Hamlin named Big 12 Freshman of the Week

IRVING, Texas — After back-to-back 20-point performances, BYU guard Olivia Hamlin was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Monday.

Hamlin led all Big 12 freshmen last week in points (42), field goals made (16), 3-point field goals (4), free throws (6), steals (6) and minutes played (65), helping BYU secure two wins to close an 11-1 non-conference slate.

“Olivia had a great week and really competed at a high level,” head coach Lee Cummard said. “Liv is at her best when she is playing instinctually on both sides of the ball. She was aggressive both offensively and defensively this week, and we need her to continue to do that to help our team be successful.”

The Santa Clara, Utah, native anchored the Cougars in victories over Idaho State and UTEP, leading BYU in scoring in both games. Hamlin averaged 21 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field, along with 3.0 steals and 2.0 assists per contest.

With BYU’s offense struggling in the first half against Idaho State, Hamlin kept the Cougars within striking distance by recording 11 points, two assists and four steals before the break. She finished with a game-high 22 points on 47.4-percent shooting, adding five steals, three assists and one rebound in the nine-point win.

Hamlin followed with another strong performance Saturday against UTEP, scoring 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including a career-best 4-of-7 from 3-point range. She also contributed a block, steal and rebound in the victory.

In the absence of Delaney Gibb, Hamlin has taken on an expanded role, averaging 29.9 minutes over the final eight non-conference games. She ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.8 points per game while shooting 38.5 percent from the field, and is averaging 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals.

Hamlin and the Cougars open conference play on Saturday, Dec. 20, as they travel to Orlando for a Saturday matinee against the UCF Knights. The game will tip at 12 p.m. MT and will be streamed on ESPN+. Fans can also tune in for live play-by-play with Jason Shepherd on BYU Radio 107.9, byuradio.org and the BYU Radio App.