BYU actually did it.

The top high school player in the world — AJ Dybantsa — announced on ESPN’s First Take Tuesday morning he has committed to play for Kevin Young and BYU. He chose BYU over other finalists Alabama, Kansas, and North Carolina.

This is certainly the biggest commitment in BYU athletics history. AJ Dybantsa is the unanimous #1 player in the 2025 class and projected #1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. A 6-foot-9 wing, AJ has the skillset and build right in line with elite NBA wing scorers.

AJ has similarities to a lot of high-end NBA players, but the best comp I’ve heard from industry scouts on him is Tracy McGrady. AJ himself has said he view T-Mac as the closest comparison. AJ is a 6-foot-9 wing with a wingspan over 7-feet and has similar size and athleticism to McGrady. He has an elite pull up game and can create his own shot against any defender due to his high release and understanding of how to get to spots. He will immediately come to BYU and average over 20+ points, and will push 25+ points. Kevin Young has coached elite wings such as Kevin Durant and Devin Booker and will use AJ in many similar ways that he used those two players.

Only 3 freshmen have ever won the Wooden Award as the nation’s top player — Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson — and Dybantsa will be in the conversation as the next freshman to win it. He will likely be a Preseason All-American and will bring an unprecedented amount of eyeballs to BYU’s program. I anticipate some high level non-conference matchups on BYU’s schedule that will get prime time spots.

AJ will team with a veteran nucleus at BYU who will look to lead BYU to their first ever Final Four (unless that happens this season) and ultimately a national title. Next season BYU is slated to return seniors Dallin Hall, Keba Keita, Richie Saunders, and Dawson Baker as well as players like Brody Kozlowski, Elijah Crawford, and high-rated freshman Xavion Staton. We’ll see what Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings do after this season.

So how did BYU get AJ? Simply put, if BYU had another coach they wouldn’t have landed AJ even if the money was the same. NIL is certainly a component, however. BYU’s boosters stepped up and are making AJ the highest paid college basketball player ever. This wasn’t solely a money play though. AJ would be great wherever he goes and the likely #1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He has stated that he wants to spend his one year in college at a place that will develop him the best so he can immediately enter the NBA as a high-end player. AJ received numerous endorsements about Kevin Young from around the NBA world, and Kevin Young’s NBA-centric staff and their player development all made this possible for BYU to land him.

Below are highlights you can watch on AJ.