"I don't think anyone will dominate headlines like Jimmer again": BYU talk about AJ Dybantsa's being compared to Cougars' legend Jimmer Fredette

AJ Dybantsa may be the hottest player BYU has ever gotten its hands on right now, but previously, the Cougars had Jimmer Fredette. In terms of success, Fredette took the school's basketball program to new heights, and people are now comparing Dybantsa to him.

While Fredette did not shine as well as many had hoped in the NBA, he was a legend in high school and BYU, leading the Cougars to the Sweet 16 during his senior year. Fans were noting that AJ Dybantsa still has many things to do to catch up to what Fredette did for the program.

"Jimmer was a Naismith winner and was talked about constantly in sports center and other sports shows. I don't think anyone will dominate headlines like Jimmer again," noted one commenter.

"@jimmerfredette_32 is legendary and has his own special place that no one can touch," added another.

"Jimmer made everyone who were casual byubb fans, super fans. Jimmerosity was iconic and unmatched. Even to this day people who shoot from beyond 3 pt line will 90% be saying, “Jimmmer!” Additionally, he wasn’t a top recruit out of high school so his statement was HUGE. AJ made history with BYU and with the coaching staff and team lined up next year, they’ll make a statement.🔥," another commenter said.

Meanwhile, there were still those who said AJ was the better basketball player, while others were saying he had not proven anything yet.

"homie hasn’t done anything yet 😭," said one commenter

"Jimmer was my childhood hero. But it’s definitely AJ," added another.

"I love Jimmer, but was he the best ever? Ainge certainly had a better career," another commented.

Fans react to AJ Dybantsa being compared to Jimmer Fredette (Credits: Instagram/bjenkins247)

Dybantsa announced his decision on national TV on Tuesday, appearing on ESPN's "First Take" and choosing BYU, a school not very well known for its basketball program, over traditional and rising powerhouses North Carolina, Alabama, and Kansas.

Dybantsa NIL offer from BYU worth millions

While he chose BYU because of the NBA connections its coaching staff has, Dybantsa was also reportedly offered a multi-million dollar deal. There are conflicting reports on how much the NIL deal is exactly, with some sources saying it is around $7 million while others say it is around $5 million.

No matter how much it is, experts and insiders agree it is in the millions. This is already a bunch of money, given that Dybantsa is only expected to be at BYU for one year, as he is expected to enter the 2026 NBA draft.