BYU's AJ Dybantsa Declares for 2026 NBA Draft

AJ Dybantsa, the standout freshman forward for Brigham Young University, officially declared for the 2026 NBA Draft on Thursday, positioning himself as a leading candidate for the No. 1 overall selection. The 6-foot-9 athlete made the announcement at the Davis School in his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts, a city known for producing boxing champions like Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler.

Dybantsa, who entered college as the top-rated recruit in the 2025 class according to 247Sports composite rankings, dominated during his single season with the Cougars. He led the nation in scoring with an average of 25.5 points per game across 35 appearances, while also contributing 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals. His performance marked him as the first consensus All-American to achieve those statistical benchmarks since Larry Bird did so for Indiana State in the 1978-79 season. Dybantsa earned First Team All-America honors, along with First Team All-Big 12 recognition, Big 12 Freshman of the Year and the Julius Erving Award as the nation's top small forward.

The forward's impact was evident from the outset, scoring 25 points with six rebounds and two steals in BYU's season...