"Everybody's going to lose": AJ Dybantsa shares his honest views on what he expects from his first season at BYU Cougars

In a recent interview with BYUtv, BYU signee AJ Dybantsa shared his thoughts on his upcoming debut season with the Cougars and his expectations for college basketball. The No. 1 ranked prospect also addressed BYU's recent struggles, having lost four of seven games this January.

When asked what coaching advice he might offer to help turn things around, the No. 1 ranked prospect gave a candid response, stating that losses are quite inevitable in sports and that it's very difficult for a team to go undefeated:

"I mean, we're fine… everybody's going to lose. Like I mean it's very hard to go undefeated, but I mean, like we're fine… Like it's the beginning of the new year."

AJ also spoke extensively on the transition from high school to college basketball. When asked about what he thinks will be the biggest difference between the levels of basketball, he noted that college basketball is faster-paced and features stronger and smarter competition:

"I've talked to all my college friends about just the difference between high school and college, just trying to pick their brain. And it's just like doing stuff in less time, doing stuff against bigger, stronger guys, playing with more high level guys, IQ wise. Playing with older guys is such a difference because they're just much stronger than you. They know a little bit more than you."

AJ also assured fans that he'll adjust to college-level basketball, just like he did as a high school rookie:

"So like I'll, I'll be a rookie, a freshman, I'll be a rookie next year. So I mean, it's just like just adjusting to older people because I remember when I was a freshman in high school and I was playing with seniors, it was the same thing."

AJ Dybantsa and Utah Prep lose first game under new coach

It wasn't the start Head Coach Keith Smart had hoped for, as Utah Prep suffered a disappointing loss in his first game in charge. The team went down to a 74-60 loss against Montverde Academy at the Spalding HoopHall Classic.

It was a game of missed opportunities for Utah Prep as they fell far behind in the first half of the game with a shocking 42-15 scoreline. To make matters worse, they only managed to score four points in the second quarter.

By the time they pulled up their socks in the second half, it was too late. Despite their best efforts, which saw them outscore the Eagles in the last two quarters, they still couldn't catch up.

AJ Dybantsa ended the game with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Speaking on the loss in the interview with BYUtv, he expressed that while it was unacceptable, it was a valuable lesson learnt:

"It was an unacceptable loss, but we learned. That was Coach Smart's first game, he gave us his insight. We're gonna bounce back. We should be playing them in the next two weeks anyway, so no real losses, just lessons learned." (6:04-6:16)

Do you think Dybantsa will hit the ground running at the collegiate level? Sound off in the comments section.