"It’s nothing that can be compared to what type of money I can keep getting": $2.8M NIL-valued AJ Dybantsa on his NIL deal and money in the NBA

The No.1 overall prospect in the high school basketball class of 2025, AJ Dybantsa, has said that NIL money is a good thing to have, but he knows he can get more getting to the NBA.

Dybantsa signed one of the biggest NIL deals in high school basketball history after committing to the BYU Cougars and signing on Nov. 13. Dybantsa reportedly signed a $7 million NIL deal to play at BYU, including a $5 million base.

The Utah Prep small forward chose the Cougars ahead of Kansas, Alabama and North Carolina, who all offered the same money BYU offered for Dybansta’s signature.

Fresno State v Brigham Young - Source: Getty

Nonetheless, despite signing an unprecedented NIL deal, Dybantsa says he is aiming for more in the NBA because his NIL deal does not compare to what he will likely get when he declares for the NBA draft. The 6-foot-9 Utah Prep star revealed this in an interview with "And Scape" posted on Friday.

“It’s cool. I’m trying to get to the NBA to have that type of money. Seeing this is good, but it’s nothing that can be compared to what type of money I can keep getting if I keep turning up,” Dybantsa told And Scape when asked about the money on the NIL deal with BYU.

It’s just reality. You see the numbers [Jayson] Tatum, Luka [Dončić], [Nikola] Jokić and Giannis [Antetokounmpo] are getting? The numbers are only going to get higher by the time I get there. Yeah, it’s money. It’s good money. I’m trying to get way higher.

The forward’s NBA dream keeps getting realistic as the Brockton, Massachusetts native is projected to go No. 1 in the 2026 NBA draft.

AJ Dybantsa’s rising value

It is not just the deal that took him to the BYU Cougars that raised Dybantsa’s NIL value. As a high school player, the No.1 overall prospect also has deals with energy drink manufacturer Red Bull and Nike.

Although the details of his deals with Red Bull are not known publicly, his deal with Nike is reportedly worth over $4 million.

He seems to be enjoying his role as Red Bull ambassador, as he attended the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Nov. 23 to show support to the brand's Formula 1 team.