During a recent game, current BYU commit and five-star recruit A.J. Dybantsa interacted with a heckling fan. The fan loudly claimed he had heard the incoming freshman would receive $7 million to attend Brigham Young University.
The heckler, an alleged adult, mockingly praised the player for securing the money. But the tone wasn’t complimentary—he seemed more interested in going viral than telling the truth. Dybantsa shut down the critic.
AJ Dybantsa Hushed Courtside Heckler Over Alleged Pay
You be the judge from this interaction from the fan:
AJ Dybantsa approached by someone claiming he got $7 million to go to BYU
“I didn’t get that. That’s a false rumor.”
(Via @Cozy and @SlvSounds on TikTok) pic.twitter.com/zG9s5NeU7z
— Church Ball: A BYU Hoops Pod (@churchballpod) April 9, 2025
From multiple angles, you can hear a hint of envy in the heckler’s voice. Whether Dybantsa received legal NIL money or not is irrelevant—it’s none of the fan’s business. Yet, the heckler persisted, focusing less on the player and more on performing for the crowd. A strange flex, especially considering he kept repeating the exact number.
Immediately, the claim raised eyebrows. To his credit, Dybantsa calmly dismissed the rumor as false and turned his focus back to the game.
Who Is AJ Dybantsa?
Originally from Brockton, Mass., Dybantsa gravitated toward basketball after outgrowing other sports. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, the future Cougar enters a program with a rich hoops history as its highest-ranked recruit ever. Despite his frame, 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein offered this evaluation of the small forward:
“The bread-and-butter of his individual offense has always been his mid-range pull-up. From an early age he was able to rise-up into a high release with good rotation on his ball. Over the years, that trademark of his arsenal has only become more dangerous as he’s developed the handle and footwork to consistently create space.”
“Simultaneously though, he’s expanded his offensive game, begun to utilize his length and athleticism to put more pressure on the rim, and extended the consistency of his shooting range out to the arc. He’s, of course, also capable of getting loose for some extremely explosive plays in the open floor. The next step in his offensive evolution is the ability to play through more contact at the rim.”
A mid-range specialist who can knock down threes and attack the rim, Dybantsa has a versatile game. However, he’s not quite NBA-ready. College basketball will test his resolve. At the prep level, he could overpower opponents. What happens when he’s no longer the biggest, strongest, or most dominant player on the floor?
And can Dybantsa handle hostile environments as a visiting player? BYU, both in and out of Utah, often draws a mix of admiration and animosity. The cheers will quickly turn to boos once the game tips off.
Fan Misbehavior
Looking at the encounter, the responsibility clearly falls on the fan. Why approach a player mid-game to ask about his finances? That kind of intrusion—often referred to as “pocket-watching”—has become a modern sports scourge. Some fans truly believe they’re entitled to involve themselves in matters that have nothing to do with them.
Once, interactions between fans and players were more respectful. Now, with camera phones and social media, everyone sees themselves as part of the media. Yet Dybantsa showed maturity. He shrugged off the jab and returned to the court.
KEEP READING: AJ Dybantsa Speaks on BYU’s Future
Whoever mentored the future BYU forward deserves credit for instilling poise and grace under pressure.
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