AJ Dybantsa committed to BYU in 2025, when he was rated as the No. 1 player in the class. The Cougars freshman is living up to the hype in his first season at the collegiate level, averaging a nation-high 24.4 points a game.
However, Dybantsa reclassified from the 2026 class to join BYU a year sooner. Some believed his decision to enroll with the Cougars stemmed from a lucrative NIL deal that was put on the table by the program.
How Much Is AJ Dybantsa’s NIL Deal Worth?
In December 2024, college basketball insider Adam Zagoria reported that BYU offered AJ Dybantsa nearly $7 million as part of his NIL deal. A few others reported that he received a minimum of $4 million in NIL money.
In July, On3 reported that Dybantsa has an NIL valuation of around $4.4 million, which ranked him as the highest-paid college basketball player in the country. At that time, he also reportedly signed a multi-year partnership with Fanatics and Fanatics Collectibles. The BYU star has also inked NIL deals with Redbull and Nike to grow his lucrative portfolio.
Dybantsa reportedly chose BYU over offers from North Carolina, Alabama, Kansas and other top programs across the country.
BYU Superstar AJ Dybantsa is Widely Regarded as the Top Pick in the 2026 NBA Draft
AJ Dybantsa is widely projected as the No. 1 pick for the 2026 NBA draft. However, it remains to be seen if the BYU star will decide to go pro after one season at the collegiate level.
Nonetheless, there is no denying Dybantsa’s ability. Along with averaging 24.4 points, he is posting 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for the Cougars.
Dybantsa’s No. 23 BYU (19-6, 7-6 Big 12) will face No. 4 Arizona (23-2, 10-2) on Wednesday. The game will tip off at 9 p.m. ET from McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona.
The Cougars enter the contest on a two-game win streak. Meanwhile, the Wildcats have lost each of their past two games.
Dybantsa is expected to play a critical role for his team on Wednesday.
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