Alabama men’s basketball was a finalist but missed out on the country’s top recruit.

AJ Dybantsa announced Tuesday on ESPN he will play basketball for BYU.

Dybantsa is the No. 1 overall recruit in the entire 2025 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s a 6-9, 210-pound small forward. Right now, Dybantsa plays for Utah Prep.

He chose BYU over the Crimson Tide, North Carolina and Kansas, among other schools.

Crimson Tide assistant Preston Murphy was Dybantsa’s coach at one point in the AAU circuit.

But major NIL money was reported to be a factor in Dybantsa’s decision. Matt Norlander of CBS Sports reported the NIL package is “enormous” and believed to be record-setting.

“There is no one in high school basketball with more potential than him and if he continues to raise the bar with each passing year he has an exceptional future in front of him,” 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein wrote.

In the 2025 recruiting class, Alabama has signed three players: Davion Hannah, London Jemison and Amari Allen. All three are listed as four-star prospects. That class ranks No. 12 in the country. BYU moved up to No. 11 with the addition of Dybantsa.