1 / 2

From left, BYU's Robert Wright III , AJ Dybantsa and Keba Keita react after defeating Clemson an NCAA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in New York.

Noah K. Murray, AP Photo

2 / 2

BYU's AJ Dybantsa reacts while throwing down a dunk against UC Riverside at the Marriott Center on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Photo

❮ ❯

To no one’s great surprise, BYU freshman sensation AJ Dybantsa is turning pro.

But he’s also staying at BYU.

Sort of.

Dybantsa made his big announcement on Thursday from the Davis School in Brockton, Mass. — his hometown — flanked by his parents and confirmed what has been rumored since last month.

“The news is already out there, today I am officially declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft,” Dybantsa said, followed by applause from those in attendance. “But as you all know, my mom wanted me to stay in college to graduate. I told my mother I was going to declare for the draft but I’m going to finish and get my degree. I’ll probably finish within the next four years. I’m going to stay at BYU and enroll in classes online.”

As the saying goes, “once a Cougar, always a Cougar.”

“I’ll probably major in mass communications and get my degree online because I wanted to make both of them (his parents) happy,” Dybantsa continued. “Their ultimate goal was for me go to college for free and that was a dream of theirs. After my commitment to BYU they were super, super happy, but obviously I had more goals in mind. My end goal was the NBA.”

To that end, the 6-foot-9 swingman is a probable No. 1 choice in the league’s draft, which is in exactly two months (June 23) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dybantsa is the third BYU player to enter the NBA Draft following one year in Provo, joining Shawn Bradley (1993) and Egor Demin (2025).

So the “AJ Dybantsa Era” is over in Provo, but it was a tremendous ride for Cougar fans since the youngster declared his pledge to BYU back in December of 2024, the first top-rated amateur player to choose to play for the Cougars.

Dybantsa was No. 1 in the country in scoring (25.5 points per game) during his only college season, earning numerous first team All-American citations and winning the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award.

He scored 21 points in his college debut, a 71-66 victory against Villanova in Las Vegas. He had 25 points in near-comeback against UConn, which advanced to the NCAA championship game. Dybantsa scored 28 points in a comeback victory against Clemson at Madison Square Garden and logged a triple-double (33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) against Eastern Washington.

He scored a season-high 43 points in a win against Utah, 36 in road games at Oklahoma State and Baylor and 40 in a 105-91 victory against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament.

His final game in a BYU uniform was a loss against Texas in the NCAA first round but Dybantsa scored 35 points against the Longhorns.

He was more than just the numbers, though, a dynamic force that consistently produced eye-popping athletic plays and spectacular dunks. Dybantsa was joyful when his teammates excelled and also took the time to enjoy his one year in college, attending school activities and athletic events as a student.

“I want to thank all of my coaches, BYU head coach  Kevin Young  and the whole staff at BYU, all of my teammates that I have played with since I was a kid,” Dybantsa said. “I want to thank God. I wouldn’t be healthy or here without him.

“”Now the work starts again, all over again. I’ve had a lot of NBA players tell me that it kind of restarts once you get there. I’m just looking forward to that next step, being a rookie and learning from all the vets.”

The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets all have a 14% chance to pick No. 1, a spot that will be determined with the Draft Lottery on May 10. BYU fans would love to see Dybantsa play in the Beehive State and the Utah Jazz have a 11.5% chance at gaining the No. 1 pick in the Draft Lottery.

Who would Dybantsa like to play for?

“Whatever team drafts me, bro,” he said.

He said his goal is to be nothing less than the best at the next level.

“The next speech — the next big, big speech — I should have is the Hall of Fame speech,” Dybantsa said. “So, we should be good.”

Top 10 NBA Draft Picks from BYU

1993 Shawn Bradley (No. 2 by the Philadelphia 76ers)

1951 Mel Hutchins (No. 2 by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks)

2025 Egor Demin (No. 8 by the Brooklyn Nets)

2004 Rafael Araujo (No. 8 by the Toronto Raptors)

2011 Jimmer Fredette (No. 10 by the Milwaukee Bucks)