AJ Dybantsa is considered the next elite basketball prodigy.
He is originally from Massachusetts, and some believe he’s already better than Cooper Flagg. Others strongly believe he’s the best American prospect since LeBron James.
With Dybantsa slated to play a single collegiate season, everyone was on pins and needles waiting for his announcement. Going live on ESPN Tuesday morning, Dybantsa announced that he will play next season in Provo for the BYU Cougars.
Without a doubt, Dybantsa becomes the single most high-profile player to sign with BYU. He picked the Cougars over the likes of North Carolina, Alabama, Kansas, and virtually every other program.
One could point to the NBA offensive scheme run by head coach Kevin Young as a point of intrigue. Playing in the Big 12 — arguably the best conference in the country — is another perk. However, as the comedic movie featuring Charlie Sheen and Chris Tucker tells us, money talks.
One report indicates that Dybantsa will receive approximately $7 million in NIL money. Dybantsa, a 6’9″ forward with supreme athleticism and a high skill level, compared his game to a mix of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tracy McGrady.
We can’t be overly surprised at ‘the bag’ Dybantsa received. With no regulations in place as to how much athletes can make, we’re officially in the Wild West period where a very wealthy donor or a group of donors can turn the fortunes of a sports program overnight.
Dybantsa will enter the college game next season as the official main attraction. Barring injury or something extremely unforeseen, he’s a virtual lock to go No. 1 in the NBA Draft once he’s eligible. For a program like BYU, Dybantsa’s inclusion will only aid in exposure and financial implications. Even if he plays a single year, the notoriety and buzz surrounding his career should pay major dividends for the BYU basketball program and the university as a whole.
