AJ Dybantsa, the 6’9″ five-star recruit, is BYU’s biggest catch in years. The jewel of Utah Prep, he surprised everyone when he committed to BYU over bluebloods like Kansas, North Carolina, and Alabama. But it’s not just the basketball machinery speaking; it’s also the NIL deals in action.
Dybantsa already has deals with giants like Nike and Red Bull, plus a valuation that just spiked to $4.1 million—he’s already making more than some pros. If it wasn’t enough that he’s sparked a basketball renaissance at BYU, he just got to take a trip to Monaco.
AJ Dybantsa Soaks Up the F1 Monaco Grand Prix Madness
BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa’s NIL power just leveled up. He was recently at the Monaco Grand Prix, all thanks to Red Bull.
This was no average getaway. In true Dybantsa style, he vlogged about the chaos, everyday activities, and turbo-charged glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix.
“We’re going to take this flight to Paris… well, actually… y’all better know I’m going to Monaco,” he teases in his vlog as he begins his adventure.
Once in Monaco, it was all about speed and surreal moments. Dybantsa hit the Red Bull Energy Station, met Formula One fans, and watched the qualifying up close.
“That actually looks like a video game, bro. How do you control that going 233 mph?” he asks about the cars during the video.
Dybantsa was all in and even went on to say, “We were really above the pit, bro… crazy experience.” He even managed to take his viewers behind the scenes, showing everything from “fit check,” joking about crashing the Rebel dancers’ battle, and even managing to capture the madness on the boats.
This trip was not just about the Grand Prix; it was about the experience. From sampling duck, lobster, and lemon mash that beat “the States,” Dybantsa made the trip special. He even joked about getting a job in France, before realizing that his lack of French might make him “horrible customer service.”
The NIL partnership with Red Bull seems like a perfect match for Dybantsa. During his time at Monaco, Dybantsa also met Olympic fencing legend Miles Chamley-Watson. If that wasn’t enough, then he even managed to meet F1 legend Max Verstappen.
RELATED: Can Kevin Young and AJ Dybantsa Deliver BYU’s First Final Four?
The race, held on May 25, was won by McLaren driver Lando Norris. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took second, and Verstappen finished fourth.
Next, before moving to the hard courts of BYU, Dybantsa will represent Team USA. He’s among 33 top prospects heading to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the USA Basketball training camp ahead of the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland, being held at the end of June.
When he arrives in Provo, though, he’ll be doing so with some of the most hype a Cougars basketball team has ever gotten. Already, the team is getting preseason top-10 hype.
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