Saturday was one of the most exciting days in college basketball history, as three freshmen put up 40-point games in three games the same day, including AJ Dybantsa. AJ is having a blast in his freshman year as he prepares for the 2025 NBA draft and is touted as the top overall pick for the 2026 offseason. However, his father, Ace Dybantsa, did not seem impressed.
After AJ delivered a career-best performance against Utah on Saturday, his father met with a reporter from BYU, who asked him about his thoughts on his son’s performance. About his son, who scored 43 points and six rebounds in the game, Ace replied:
“I need more rebounds from AJ. He only had 6.”
The reporter then highlighted:
“He set a freshman single game scoring record at BYU!”
Ace was not satisfied with just points as he replied:
“Yeah, that was good. Still need more rebounds.”
Besides AJ, Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler scored 42 and 46 points, respectively.
All three players are highly anticipated top picks for the 2026 NBA offseason, and their performance will surely catch the attention of scouts and team management. Even Utah’s head coach, Alex Jensen, had big words for the talented youngster.
“AJ Dybantsa is a generational talent,” Utah HC Alex Jensen praises the freshman’s outing
The 2025-26 batch is already showing the potential to be one of the most competitive in recent years. The 2025 FIBA World Cup U19 MVP has the skillset to be an asset for any NBA team looking to strengthen its frontcourt.
After AJ’s 43-point outing against Utah, the team’s head coach, Alex Jensen, was impressed with his performance. The coach said:
“(AJ Dybantsa)” is a generation talent … there’s no telling how good he can be.”
The 6-foot-9 forward broke the decade-old freshman scoring record that veteran NBA player Danny Ainge set. He scored 4 of 5 from the 3-point line, showcasing his efficiency from the distance as well.
READ MORE: AJ Dybantsa’s Lack of BYU Knowledge Found Out Even as 43-Point Game Dominates
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