BYU Basketball Reportedly Makes the Cut for No. 1 Basketball Prospect AJ Dybansta

Casey Lundquist | Jul 16, 2024

BYU head coach Kevin Young / BYU Photo

BYU basketball and new head coach Kevin Young continue to shoot for the stars on the recruiting trail. In the latest development, BYU has made the top 10 for no. 1 basketball prospect AJ Dybansta, according to a report from Joe Tipton of On3 Sports. The Cougars are joined by Baylor, Duke, Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, UConn, Duke, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, and USC in the top 10.

AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class, discusses the schools pictured below, cutting his list down, scheduling visits, and a timeline for a commitment (On3+): https://t.co/Tw5HLjsvBw pic.twitter.com/VdF0t7pSJf

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 16, 2024

That report comes one day after BYU was named the "program to beat" for Dybansta's services by college basketball insider Gary Parrish. Parrish said as much on a podcasts with other insiders Matt Norlander and Adam Finkelstein. Their comments on Dybansta start at the 39 minute mark in this video. "I asked who is the team to beat? If I were asking you now for AJ Dybansta," Parrish said. "And immediately you know what the guy said? BYU."

Words can't describe what a commitment like that would mean for BYU basketball and BYU athletics in general. Dybansta is the consensus top overall recruit in the 2025 class and he is the projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He is viewed as one of the best NBA prospects in the last decade.

There is still a long ways to go until Dybansta signs with his college of choice. Although it's early and anything can happen on the recruiting trail, BYU is legitimately in contention to land AJ Dybansta.

BYU has never been able to reach recruiting territory like that, at least not with prospects that are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dybansta alone would make BYU basketball a national storyline during his lone season of college basketball.

It's easy to see why AJ is such a coveted prospect and the projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He has elite size and athleticism and he's skilled. He can handle the ball and create his own shot, and he can comfortably knock down jumpers.