Latest news with #FIBAU16AmericasChampionship
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
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
7-foot-9 Florida center Olivier Rioux goes viral after unique approach cutting down net
Even in a game of modern giants, University of Florida freshman Olivier Rioux stands tall. The Canadian center, now listed at 7-foot-9, caught college basketball fans' attention watching the Gators win the SEC Championship following the game when he stepped up to cut down a piece of the net. Where his peers and coaches used a ladder, Rioux stood on the floor, reaching up with a pair of scissors. Advertisement Known as the tallest teenager in the world, Rioux was cheered by the Florida-affiliated people who surrounded him as he got a piece of the twine. Watch here, courtesy of the SEC Network: Florida men's basketball beat Tennessee 86-77 to win the SEC championship on Sunday, finishing the season 30-4 and shifting its focus to March Madness. Rioux is redshirting this season, and when he plays next year, he will be the tallest in Div. I history, according to ESPN. He's long been the tallest player on the court. Take a look back at his growth and prep years: Olivier Rioux in school By the age of 8, Rioux was 6-foot-1 and playing basketball. He reached 6-foot-11 in sixth grade and hit the 7-foot mark in the summer before seventh grade. Much of his basketball education came under Pascal Jobin, who coached at Cégep Édouard Montpetit and McGill University, Rioux told USA TODAY High School Sports in December 2023. Advertisement Much of Rioux's high school experience came on the international stage, as he played in the 2021 FIBA U16 Americas Championship, 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup, 2023 U18 FIBE AmeriCup and 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup, according to his Florida bio. He played at IMG Academy, where he split time between the IMG Varsity Blue roster and the program's national team. Here are international stats listed on his Florida bio: 2021 FIBA U16 Americas Championship: 8.3 points and 10.3 rebounds over six games 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup: 2.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup: 3.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in five appearances 2023 U18 FIBA AmeriCup: 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, helping Canada win a bronze medal This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Florida's 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux doesn't need a ladder to cut down net
