BYU's AJ Dybantsa declares for NBA Draft/announces he's returning for sophomore season
· Yahoo Sports
BYU star freshman AJ Dybantsa announced on Thursday that he will declare for the 2026 NBA Draft. Dybantsa is largely projected to be the No. 1 overall pick.
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In Yahoo Sports’ latest mock draft, Kevin O’Connor has Dybantsa going first overall to the Chicago Bulls.
Since BYU’s season-ending loss to Texas in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Dybantsa has been mulling his decision on whether to declare or return for his sophomore season. He told Yahoo Sports earlier this month that his decision was up to his mom, who values his education and has helped him with many of his decisions.
Dybantsa made a massive impact on the Cougars last season. The 19-year-old averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 51% from the field for BYU. He was named to the AP All-America First Team, alongside Duke freshman Cam Boozer and Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr.
Dybantsa broke Kevin Durant’s Big 12 tournament scoring record with 93 points across three games. Dybantsa scored 40 against Kansas State in the first round of the Big 12 tournament, his second 40-point game at BYU.
Nineteen years ago, Durant scored 92 points in three games while at Texas.
Dybantsa was BYU’s No. 1 option all season long and still took on an increased scoring load after senior guard Richie Saunders went down with a season-ending torn ACL late in the season. In BYU’s NCAA tournament loss to Texas, Dybantsa scored 35 and Robert Wright III had 14 points. Everyone else on BYU’s roster combined for 22.
Before reclassifying up a year to play at BYU, Dybantsa was one of the most highly touted high school basketball players. He played for Utah Prep, Prolific Prep and Saint Sebastian’s during his high school career. He was the No. 1 recruit in the country in 2025 ahead of Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer. Both Peterson and Boozer have not made their draft decisions but are widely expected to also declare for the 2026 Draft and be likely top-three picks.