The top player in the college basketball class of 2025 is getting an early start with the Brigham Young Cougars.
After wrapping up a standout high school career at Utah Prep, five-star forward AJ Dybantsa committed to BYU, turning down offers from some of the biggest programs in the nation. Schools like Duke, North Carolina, and Kentucky had expressed serious interest, but Dybantsa chose to take his talents to Provo.
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Dybantsa recently appeared in the McDonald’s All-American Game, where his athleticism and court presence further validated his elite status. Standing at 6-foot-9, the versatile forward is already generating buzz ahead of his arrival.
His recent visit to BYU’s campus was highlighted by a social media post that quickly made the rounds in college basketball circles, sending some major intrigue about what’s to come.
He’ll play under Kevin Young, who has openly stated his vision of transforming BYU into a program that regularly develops NBA talent. Dybantsa could be the first major piece of that puzzle.
Utah Prep Academy forward AJ Dybantsa (3).Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
In his first season at the helm, Young led the Cougars to a 26-10 record and a tie for third place in the Big 12 Conference. The season ended in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, where BYU fell to Alabama in a high-scoring affair, 113-88.
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Dybantsa won’t be the only new face joining the Cougars next season. Kennard Davis, Rob Wright, and Dominique Diomande have also committed to the program for the 2025–26 campaign.
Davis, a 6-foot-6 guard from Saint Louis, Missouri, previously played at Southern Illinois in the Missouri Valley Conference and brings a strong two-way skillset to the roster.
Wright transferred from Baylor, where he spent his freshman season under head coach Scott Drew. The 6-foot-1 guard originally came from Montverde Academy.
Diomande, a 6-foot-8 forward, spent one season in the Big Ten with the Washington Huskies. He committed to BYU just two days after entering the transfer portal, giving the Cougars another experienced frontcourt option.
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With momentum from a strong tournament run and a promising recruiting class led by Dybantsa, BYU looks poised to take another leap in the 2025–26 season.
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