Latest news with #Dybantsa
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
AJ Dybantsa and BYU to face UConn at TD Garden this fall
It'll be a matchup between teams projected to be among the preseason top 10, as well as between two of the top New England players in college basketball. Advertisement Dybantsa will face a UConn team led by Southborough native Alex Karaban, a two-time national champion who averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game last season. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'The game against UConn in Boston is going to be a great test for our team and allow Cougar fans all over the East Coast to see us play in one of the premier venues in the NBA,' BYU coach Kevin Young said in a statement. The game will be the Huskies' first in Boston since the 2024 East Regional, when UConn blew past San Diego State in the Sweet 16 and Illinois in the Elite Eight en route to becoming repeat national champion. It will be UConn's second appearance in the Hall of Fame Series after the Huskies beat Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden in December. Advertisement 'The Hall of Fame Series has been great to us in the past, so it was a no-brainer to jump at an opportunity to play an elite opponent in 'Storrs North,' ' UConn coach Dan Hurley said in a statement. 'We know it will be a quality event with a great crowd and a stiff test to see where we are as a team.' One week after the game at TD Garden, the Naismith Hall of Fame also will put on a showcase featuring Boston University, Harvard, Providence, and Penn State at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Additionally, UConn men's and women's basketball teams will take part in an exhibition doubleheader against Boston College at Mohegan Sun Arena on Oct. 13. It'll be the teams' first meeting on the women's side since 2005, and first on the men's side since 2013. Emma Healy can be reached at
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
AJ Dybantsa take his talents to international stage
Long before AJ Dybantsa electrified the recruiting world as the nation's top-ranked basketball prospect and a future BYU Cougar, his story started with something deeper—his roots. This past weekend, the 6-foot-8 freshman traveled to Jamaica not to showcase his game, but to give back to the island his mother calls home. In a two-day visit blending philanthropy, mentorship, and cultural pride, Dybantsa partnered with the Bob Marley Foundation and the Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA) to uplift underserved communities. What followed was more than charity—it was a full-circle moment. 'This isn't my first time here,' Dybantsa told a crowd in Kingston. 'I love coming back. I'll always be back.' Advertisement On Friday, May 9, he visited Dupont and Whitfield Primary Schools, distributing basketball shoes and gear to eager young athletes. But it wasn't just about the equipment—it was about presence. Dybantsa and his father, Ace, hoisted kids toward the rim so they could dunk for the first time, triggering cheers that echoed far beyond the court. 'Just seeing those smiles—that's something I'll never forget,' AJ said. Saturday saw a deeper dive into development. At Jamaica College, he spoke with the Under-17 national team and handed out gear to players from across the island, including St. Catherine High School. From there, he explored Jamaica's musical heart at Tuff Gong Studios before finishing the day at Trench Town Community Court. Though only 18, Dybantsa understands the weight of his platform. The visit wasn't about headlines; it was about planting seeds. Advertisement 'Today was more about giving them what they need to play,' he said. 'Next time, it's about skill development.' Already a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, AJ's impact is being felt long before he suits up for BYU. For Cougar fans, this trip wasn't just a sign of his talent—it was a statement of character. And as Dybantsa continues his rise, one thing is clear: his game may take him to the top, but his heart keeps him grounded. Related: BYU player catches attention by taking major leap toward Olympic dream Related: BYU WR locked in for 2025 comeback
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BYU five-star transfer wasn't chasing NIL, wanted NBA enviroment under Kevin Young
Robert Wright III was sold on BYU even before he got to Provo. While many following the program were shocked he took a spot with the Cougars, it wasn't driven by NIL. Deseret News reporter Jay Drew recently explained Wright's thoughts behind transferring to BYU "I kinda just thought that coming to BYU and being around guys who have seen the NBA at the highest level and just what they are building and everything, it is just, I didn't want to pass that up," Wright said. "It didn't really have too much to do with NIL.' Advertisement The former All-Big 12 honorable guard is coming off his freshman season at Baylor. He averaged 11.5 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 41.4% from the field and 34.2% from beyond the arc in 35 games for the Bears. NIL money wasn't the driving force, but it didn't hurt either. Wright reportedly pulled in $3.5 million to join Dybantsa and the Cougars. He'll play with the top recruit in the nation with a bright NBA future in 2026, along with Tater Tot King Richie Saunders and Keba Keita. Two key pieces from BYU's Sweet 16 run with Egor Demin testing the NBA waters. 'There were a lot of ups and downs, just on the basketball side," Wright told Drew. "I had a lot of fun at Baylor. I appreciate their fanbase and everything like that. But I just felt like I was ready for something different ... It wasn't personal." Wright and Dybantsa have history together in a few circles. They're both top recruits separated by a year and will now make BYU a force in the new era of college basketball. Add in Kevin Young and his NBA-style coach staff and the sky is the limit in the Big 12 and beyond.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
No. 1 College Basketball Recruit AJ Dybantsa Announces New NIL Deal
AJ Dybantsa passed up offers from several major blueblood programs to join BYU under new head coach Kevin Young. Now, the top college basketball recruit in the nation is getting comfortable in Provo as he prepares for his first season with the Cougars this fall. Advertisement When he's not on the court, Dybantsa has been making appearances and connecting with fans. He's expected to become one of the top NIL earners in college sports. Recently, he showed up working at a local McDonald's, greeting customers in the drive-thru and handing out orders. He shared the moment on social media with the caption: "AJ x McDonald's new side quest unlocked" AJ Dybantsa, Dybantsa, Instagram Dybantsa joins BYU from Utah Prep in Hurricane, Utah, after stints at Saint Sebastian's (Mass.), Prolific Prep (Calif.) and finally Utah, where he reunited with top 2025 point guard JJ Mandaquit. Though he could've played another year of high school basketball, Dybantsa reclassified in October to join the class of 2025. AJ Dybantsa, including Brigham Young Cougars freshman. AJ Dybantsa/Instagram The 6-foot-7 forward earned a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship in Mexico. He scored 12 points in the gold medal game and averaged 13.8 points per game during the tournament. Advertisement At BYU, Dybantsa will play for Kevin Young, who brings NBA coaching experience from stints with the 76ers and Suns. Young has said he wants to turn BYU into an 'NBA factory,' making this a valuable opportunity for both coach and player. While many expect Dybantsa to play only one season in Provo, his development under Young's NBA-style system will be closely watched. In his first season as BYU's head coach, Young led the Cougars to a 26-10 record. Their NCAA Tournament run ended in the Sweet 16, where they lost to Alabama after giving up 113 points. Related: Hunter Dickinson Had No Words for Big Kansas Announcement Related: No. 2 College Basketball Recruit Reacts to Four-Star Prospect's Duke Visit
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
No. 1 College Basketball Recruit is Turning Heads With New Post
The top player in the college basketball class of 2025 is getting an early start with the Brigham Young Cougars. After wrapping up a standout high school career at Utah Prep, five-star forward AJ Dybantsa committed to BYU, turning down offers from some of the biggest programs in the nation. Schools like Duke, North Carolina, and Kentucky had expressed serious interest, but Dybantsa chose to take his talents to Provo. Advertisement Dybantsa recently appeared in the McDonald's All-American Game, where his athleticism and court presence further validated his elite status. Standing at 6-foot-9, the versatile forward is already generating buzz ahead of his arrival. His recent visit to BYU's campus was highlighted by a social media post that quickly made the rounds in college basketball circles, sending some major intrigue about what's to come. He'll play under Kevin Young, who has openly stated his vision of transforming BYU into a program that regularly develops NBA talent. Dybantsa could be the first major piece of that puzzle. Utah Prep Academy forward AJ Dybantsa (3).Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images In his first season at the helm, Young led the Cougars to a 26-10 record and a tie for third place in the Big 12 Conference. The season ended in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, where BYU fell to Alabama in a high-scoring affair, 113-88. Advertisement Dybantsa won't be the only new face joining the Cougars next season. Kennard Davis, Rob Wright, and Dominique Diomande have also committed to the program for the 2025–26 campaign. Davis, a 6-foot-6 guard from Saint Louis, Missouri, previously played at Southern Illinois in the Missouri Valley Conference and brings a strong two-way skillset to the roster. Wright transferred from Baylor, where he spent his freshman season under head coach Scott Drew. The 6-foot-1 guard originally came from Montverde Academy. Diomande, a 6-foot-8 forward, spent one season in the Big Ten with the Washington Huskies. He committed to BYU just two days after entering the transfer portal, giving the Cougars another experienced frontcourt option. Advertisement With momentum from a strong tournament run and a promising recruiting class led by Dybantsa, BYU looks poised to take another leap in the 2025–26 season. Related: UNC Commit Sends Clear Message After Joining Hubert Davis Related: Kentucky's Mark Pope Makes Move on Five-Star Recruit
