A.J. Dybantsa picks … BYU?! Breaking down the class of
Dec 10, 2024, 12:02 PM ET The No. 1 possibility in high school basketball is off the board– and he’s going to BYU.A.J.
Dybantsa, who is likewise the overwhelming preferred to be the No. 1 choice in the 2026 NBA draft, chose the Cougars over Alabama, North Carolina and Kansas. Regardless of Dybantsa’s top-ranked status and the powerhouse programs breaking BYU, there was fairly little drama surrounding his recruitment for the past couple of months. The Cougars became the favorites throughout the summer and held off late presses from the competition to land Dybantsa’s commitment.Editor’s Picks 2 Related He ends up being the
very first five-star possibility to dedicate to BYU given that the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007, and his pledge vaults the Cougars into the top 10 of the 2025 recruiting class rankings.How did the leading player in the nation wind up in Provo, Utah? And what makes him so appealing for NBA front offices?ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Paul Biancardi and Jonathan Givony break down Dybantsa’s game, his effect
at the next level and what his commitment suggests for the schools involved.Why BYU?Dybantsa was a top priority target for BYU coach Kevin Young and his staff nearly right away after Young was hired in the spring.
Young satisfied
with Dybantsa’s parents a number of weeks after taking control of the task, then welcomed Dybantsa on a visit in early June. Young’s experience on NBA staffs was attracting Dybantsa, as was his deal with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.It would likewise be ignorant to discount the function name, image and similarity played in protecting Dybantsa’s commitment. He would have made several millions at any of his finalists, however BYU’s pockets are as deep as
anybody’s– and Young didn’t hide it in April when he got the task, stating”There’s not going to be a lot of things that hold us back here. … I have not heard ‘no’a whole lot.”However Dybantsa does not make BYU a championship game contender by himself– Young and his staff now need to go out and surround Dybantsa with enough talent to guarantee his one year in Provo isn’t a waste. The Cougars will lose four senior citizens from this year’s group, and they will also likely bid farewell to forecasted lottery choice Egor Demin and possibly first-round choice Kanon Catchings.Top-50 hire Xavion Staton is a start. He ought to make an immediate effect on the protective end and provide interior depth. Starters Richie Saunders, Dallin Hall and Keba Keita are all slated to be back, too. Beyond that, BYU will have to go huge in the spring, whether that remains in the
transfer website, globally or with readily available high school potential customers. It’s assuring that Young and his personnel had the ability to land Demin and Catchings in May and June, respectively, last offseason.– Borzello BREAKING: A.J. Dybantsa, the No. 1 possibility in high school basketball, has revealed his dedication to BYU on @FirstTake. Dybantsa becomes the Cougars ‘first five-star hire in the contemporary recruiting age. He picked Kevin Young and BYU over Alabama , North Carolina and Kansas. pic.twitter.com/Ku2uoyidlD!.?.!— Jeff Borzello(@jeffborzello)December 10, 2024 How does Dybantsa suit BYU’s system?Dybantsa’s adaptability fits together perfectly with Young’s NBA-oriented plan. The Cougars run a five-out offense that must result in plenty of take a look at the rim and from beyond the arc, where Dybantsa has actually gotten better this season. Young coached Kevin Durant and Devin Booker as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns, so he comprehends how to incorporate middle-game elite–
remember Dybantsa has coped with excellent success in
the midrange– with BYU’s quick hitters and half court actions. Dybantsa is a fear leading the break in the open court and in two-man games in the half court. At 6-foot-9 with terrific verticality and energy, anticipate him to be a several position switch protector and to make some highlight-reel defensive efforts.Young can surround Dybantsa with the ideal pieces for success: Big man Keba Keita will be returning and will release Dybantsa up with tough screens both on and off the ball. Junior Dallin Hall will be the main point guard and assist-maker, and 3-point shooter Richie Saunders (39.5 %)will likewise be back. Fellow devotes Xavion Staton, an ESPN 100 hire who is among the very best shot blockers in the country, and four-star possibility Chamberlin Burgess will assist connect things together.– Biancardi What makes Dybantsa
the preferred to be the No. 1 choice in the 2026 NBA draft?Every NBA group is trying to find a wing in Dybantsa’s mold: a 6-9, long-armed main shot developer who ratings non-stop out of isos, pick-and-rolls and transition; can make top-level playmaking checks out; and brings nonstop intensity defensively.Top stories of the week from Get unique access to countless premium articles a year from top writers. – Risers, fallers
in new NBA draft rankings”- Ranking leading 15 QBs in the transfer website
“- 5 ways Yankees can restore their winter season “More ESPN+ material “He has exceptional footwork, body control and speed operating out of triple threat, altering speeds skillfully with long strides penetrating individually, ending up artistically in the lane, typically looking for
contact and drawing fouls in bunches all over he has played.The NBA extremely covets his archetype, and he’s the favorite to go No. 1 right now because of that. That stated, it’s by no
means a done deal, and he will have substantial competitors from the likes
of Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer for that spot.
He’ll require to earn that mantle with an efficient season at BYU.– Givony What does the NBA want to see from him in college?Winning would be an excellent start
— revealing he can be the centerpiece of a BYU team that goes deep into the NCAA tournament. Finding some consistency with his border shooting, shot selection and decision-making would go a long way, as well.His hunger for scoring and bully-ball design( not constantly extremely visually pleasing )has actually obstructed his performance in the past. It will be fascinating to see which variation we get of him in college: the ball-stopping, often wild decision-maker who has been extremely streaky from beyond the arc traditionally(30%), or the more under control, extremely team-oriented player we saw with USA Basketball. That version of Dybantsa was typically unstoppable at the FIBA U17 World Cup this previous
summer.He’s going to get coached up at BYU, while being given a long leash to check out the depths of his skill, and I anticipate him to have a great season and make considerable strides on both ends of the flooring within the structure he’ll be asked to play in.– Givony What’s next for
the groups that missed out on Dybantsa?There was a brief stretch over the weekend when it looked like a school besides BYU– which had been thought about the favorite given that the summer season– might get Dybantsa, with the Alabama Crimson Tide creating plenty of late buzz and North Carolina Tar Heels spending time. But both groups fell short, so where do they turn next?Alabama loses at least 5 elders– consisting of 3 starters– and freshman Derrion Reid could also check the NBA draft waters. The Crimson Tide already have top-25 recruit Davion Hannah in the fold, and their most significant targets left are
luxury guards Mikel Brown Jr. and Brayden Burries.Depending how the rest of its season goes, North Carolina might have a lot of moving parts at the end of the campaign. But the Tar Heels have one big wheel left on their target board: elite forward Caleb Wilson. A choice may not be too far away, and they’re right there at the top of his list.The Kansas Jayhawks never seemed
to have much of a shot with Dybantsa down the stretch, and the Jayhawks already have No. 2 general recruit Darryn Peterson signed for 2025. A.J. Storr and Rylan Griffen are likewise predicted to return on the wings, which implies Self could be well-stocked on the boundary before the portal opens.– Borzello