PROVO, Utah — AJ Dybantsa broke BYU’s freshman scoring file and confirmed once more why he could possibly be the No. 1 decide within the draft.
Subsequent up for Dybantsa and the Cougars: the No. 1 group within the nation.
Dybantsa scored 43 factors to steer the No. 13 Cougars to a 91-78 victory over Utah on Saturday, surpassing Danny Ainge’s faculty file for factors in a recreation by a freshman. He went 15 for twenty-four from the sector and 9 for 10 from the free throw line within the first 40-point recreation of his collegiate profession.
“It feels good to interrupt any file — if it was Danny’s or not,” Dybantsa mentioned. “I simply thank my teammates for simply giving me the ball in the proper spots. God was on my facet. I used to be hitting pictures.”
Dybantsa’s efficiency got here per week after he scored a career-low 13 factors on 6-of-17 taking pictures in an 84-71 loss to Texas Tech. BYU coach Kevin Younger made a concerted effort to keep away from double-teams by maintaining Dybantsa in fixed movement. Younger reasoned it might give his freshman star simpler appears to be like on the basket.
He was proper. Dybantsa bounced again by scoring or aiding on 11 of the Cougars’ 18 second-half baskets.
“We had been shifting him round slightly bit greater than we often do due to how they guarded him up there,” Younger mentioned. “We wished to get him on the transfer extra. It was tougher to double-team and our guys did a great job of screening and getting him the ball.”
BYU ahead AJ Dybantsa (3) shoots in the course of the first half of an NCAA faculty basketball recreation towards Utah, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Provo, Utah. Credit score: AP/Tyler Tate
The Utes shot 62% from 3-point vary and had been 8 for 10 from lengthy distance after halftime. That also wasn’t ok largely due to Dybantsa, who helped the Cougars construct a 21-point lead with 1:43 left.
“He’s a generational expertise and he confirmed what he’s able to tonight,” Utah coach Alex Jensen mentioned. “There’s no telling how good he can get.”
Dybantsa was the third freshman on an influence convention group to attain at the very least 40 factors on Saturday. Illinois guard Keaton Wagler tallied 46 factors in an 88-82 victory over Purdue and Houston guard Kingston Flemings had 42 factors in a 90-86 loss to Texas Tech.
“I really feel like we’ve got a loopy class,” Dybantsa mentioned. “I feel we’ve got among the finest courses in recent times.”
BYU ahead AJ Dybantsa reacts to scoring a profession excessive and new freshman file at BYU in the course of the second half of an NCAA faculty basketball recreation towards Utah, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Provo, Utah. Credit score: AP/Tyler Tate
Dybantsa got here into Saturday’s recreation averaging 22.5 factors on 54.7% taking pictures from the sector. On Monday, he’ll take a look at himself towards undefeated and top-ranked Arizona.
The BYU star has been broadly projected as a top-3 decide in NBA mock drafts. For Younger, there’s no query regarding his true standing.
“He’s palms down the clear-cut No. 1 decide within the NBA draft upcoming and it was on show tonight,” Younger mentioned. “He was doing it each which method.”
