Every NBA scout, analyst, and tanking front office in the league has AJ Dybantsa circled on their draft board. Some teams have been losing on purpose all season just for a shot at him. So when Dybantsa sat down on the “Deseret Voices” podcast and casually dropped “I might not leave college,” the basketball world collectively spit out its coffee.
He might just stick around Provo for another year. Maybe two. Maybe three.
What Dybantsa Actually Said
To be fair, Dybantsa wasn’t announcing a Kentucky-style multi-year college career. He was being honest. Refreshingly, frustratingly honest.
“I might not leave college,” he said with a grin. “I just gotta wait until the end of the season.” When pressed further, he kept it equally cryptic: “They can assume. I ain’t say anything.”
He acknowledged he wants to go No. 1. He also acknowledged the BYU fans chanting “one more year” are getting in his head a little. But the real storyline here isn’t the fans. It’s his mom.
The Real Reason Dybantsa Might Stay
Dybantsa’s mother wants her son to graduate. That’s it. That’s the headline. And honestly? It’s hard to argue with her. “My mom wants me to graduate,” Dybantsa said. “As a mom, she’s thinking post-basketball. And God forbid, if anything happens to me, I should always have a backup plan.”
There’s something genuinely moving about that. Here’s a 19-year-old kid who could walk into a room with Adam Silver this June and leave with a contract worth $60 million or more, and he’s still checking in with his mom first. That’s not a red flag. That’s just good parenting paying off.
Still, let’s be clear about the financial reality. Last year’s No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg, signed a four-year, $62.7 million deal with the Mavericks. No. 2 pick Dylan Harper got $56.1 million with the Spurs. The third selection, VJ Edgecombe, pulled in $50.4 million.
Where Dybantsa Stands In the 2026 Draft Conversation
Even with a BYU team that’s gone 8-9 in the Big 12 and lost eight of their last eleven games, Dybantsa has been exceptional. He’s averaging 24.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. The team hasn’t always shown up. He has.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo ranked him as the second-best prospect in the 2026 class behind Kansas’ Darryn Peterson. Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman projected him No. 1 overall to Sacramento. On3’s Jamie Shaw III has him atop his Big Board entirely. The consensus is clear, even if Dybantsa himself won’t say it out loud.
NBA players are already taking notice, too. Russell Westbrook has personally given Dybantsa advice on how defenders at the next level would attack him. When Westbrook is studying your game as a freshman, you’re not a college player anymore.
Can Dybantsa Lead BYU On a March Madness Run?
Before any draft decisions get made, he has unfinished business. BYU sits at 20-10 and is currently projected as a No. 6 seed in ESPN’s latest bracket. The Cougars are a long shot for a deep run, but Dybantsa genuinely believes they can win the whole thing. That kind of confidence is what separates elite competitors from everyone else.
If he gets hot in March, two things will happen simultaneously. NBA scouts will be even more convinced he’s a generational talent. And BYU fans will be even louder about that “one more year.” His mom might have some competition.
The Bottom Line On Dybantsa’s Future
Dybantsa is a 19-year-old who is thoughtful and respectful of his mother’s wishes, and he doesn’t want to make a major life announcement before his freshman season is even finished. That’s actually admirable.
The NBA is waiting. The money is waiting. The moment is waiting. But right now, Dybantsa is focused on March. His mom is focused on his GPA. And the rest of us are just along for the ride.
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