No. 1 recruit AJ Dybansta is committed to BYU basketball

On Tuesday, the best basketball prospect in the country committed to Kevin Young and the BYU basketball program. AJ Dybansta, a consensus five-star recruit and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, who was selected by BYU ahead of fellow finalists North Carolina, Kansas and Alabama.

Dybansta has been a BYU target since Young arrived on campus in Provo. The reality that Dybansta would play his college basketball in Provo became more and more likely as the transfer cycle progressed. What initially seemed like a long shot became a legitimate possibility when Dybansta narrowed down his list of finalists.

Months of recruiting paid off on Tuesday when Dybansta committed to the Cougars on ESPN’s First Take, hosted by Stephen A. Smith.

Dybansta’s commitment is unparalleled for the BYU basketball program. The Cougars have signed highly touted recruits like Shawn Bradley in the past. However, unlike Bradley, Dybansta is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dybansta comes to BYU to prepare for the NBA. Dybansta has been compared to NBA stars like Paul George.

Kevin Young had a vision to make BYU a place where future NBA prospects could come and develop. In just seven months he turned this vision into reality. Current BYU freshmen Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings have the potential to become first-round picks in the upcoming NBA draft.

He won’t be in Provo for more than a year, but he has the potential to make the 2025-2026 BYU basketball season one of the most memorable in program history.