BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa announced this Thursday (23) his registration for the 2026 NBA Draft. The statement was made in his hometown, Brockton, in the state of Massachusetts, in the United States.
At 2.06 m tall (6 feet 9 inches), Dybantsa is seen as one of the top draft picks, with a projection of being among the top three selected. Other names considered for the first position are Darryn Peterson, from the Kansas Jayhawks, and Cameron Boozer, from the Duke Blue Devils.
Considered the best high school player in the class of 2025, Dybantsa made an immediate impact on college basketball. He broke 19 BYU freshman and individual game records and won several national awards at the end of the season.
The winger was unanimously selected to the first All-American team, made the Big 12 conference’s first team selection and was named Freshman of the Year.
In 35 games as a starter, he led the country with an average of 25.5 points per game. His 894 points on the season represent the third-highest mark in history for an NCAA Division I freshman. He also recorded averages of 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists, shooting 51% and 33.1% on three-pointers.
Dybantsa also made Big 12 history by becoming one of the only players to record a triple-double of 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists — a feat achieved in December 2025 against Eastern Washington. The other to reach the milestone was David Harrison, in 2002.
The order of choice will be defined after the lottery, scheduled for May 10, in Chicago. Recruitment is scheduled for June 23rd and 24th.
