AJ Dybantsa explains why he chose BYU among 33 programs

With all due respect, the BYU Cougars have never been known for being much of a powerhouse. They’re not the most prominent program in college basketball by any means.

That’s why it was somewhat surprising to see them land AJ Dybantsa, the most sought-after recruit in his class, especially considering some of the schools that were also keeping tabs on him.

With that in mind, the projected first-overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft got brutally honest and shared his reasoning for committing to playing for the Cougars, and it wasn’t about money.

AJ Dybantsa reveals why he chose the Cougars

“Yeah, like a family atmosphere on and off the court from a campus standpoint,” he said. “I want a great development coach who can improve my skillset, IQ, everything. Strength program got to be on point. There’s a lot of things that went into it.”

Dybantsa has excelled with Team USA at the youth levels, and some scouts argued that he would’ve given Cooper Flagg a run for his money as the first pick if he were eligible to enter this year’s draft.

Needless to say, he will have to carry a lot of weight on his shoulders to lead a small program to relevance, but he seems to have the unique skill set and physical tools to do so.