“money must’ve really been good”: College hoops world left in awe as AJ Dybantsa commits to BYU over Alabama and more

The basketball community was shocked when 6-foot-9 high school phenom and No. 1 prospect AJ Dybantsa announced his commitment to BYU during a segment on ESPN's First Take.

His decision to join the Cougars, bypassing powerhouse programs like Alabama, North Carolina and Kansas, has made him BYU’s first five-star recruit since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007.

Dybantsa’s choice sparked mixed reactions among fans.

"That money must’ve really been good," a fan tweeted.

"Why would you wanna play for BYU?" Another tweeted.

"Get ready for four years of soaking and dry humping!" A fan tweeted.

"That brother chasing the snow, no other reason to do this," a fan tweeted.

"BYU with significantly more money and better NIL than Bama confirmed," another tweeted.

Despite the chatter, Dybantsa's reasoning is deeply tied to the unique appeal of BYU’s coaching staff, led by Kevin Young, who recently transitioned from the NBA to head the program.

"At BYU, the whole staff from the head coach on down came from the NBA," Dybantsa shared with ESPN. "Head coach Kevin Young coached my favorite player in Kevin Durant, and coached Devin Booker. Both had a lot of good things to say about him. We watched clips of both."

Young’s NBA pedigree was major in BYU’s rise in Dybantsa’s recruitment. Shortly after becoming head coach in the spring, Young made a lasting impression by flying out to meet Dybantsa’s parents during the NBA playoffs while still with the Phoenix Suns.

Later, Dybantsa visited BYU’s campus in late June and concluded his official visits there in October.

AJ Dybantsa chooses BYU: NBA ties and a historic decision

AJ Dybantsa cited BYU’s strong NBA connections as a decisive factor. BYU's NBA ties, including coach Kevin Young and staff from the Bucks and Suns, were key to Dybantsa’s choice.

"Coach Young's NBA background played a big factor in my decision," Dybantsa said. "He came from the NBA. He coached NBA players. You cannot get any closer to where I want to be."

Dybantsa’s recruiting journey was competitive, with visits to Kansas, Alabama and North Carolina. Kansas State hosted him in August but failed to make his final shortlist. His father, Ace, even attended Alabama’s matchup against North Carolina in Chapel Hill last week.

Hailing from Massachusetts, Dybantsa transferred from Prolific Prep in California to Utah Prep in 2023. He also reclassified from the 2026 to the 2025 high school class in October while retaining his No. 1 ranking.

Though choosing BYU was challenging, Dybantsa acknowledged:

"This was a tough decision. The hardest part about the recruiting process is after every visit you want to go to that school."

His decision now positions BYU as a future contender on the national stage. Dybantsa's high school career has been nothing short of remarkable. A Gatorade Player of the Year recipient for Massachusetts in 2022-23, he dominated the Nike Peach Jam in 2023, leading in scoring with an impressive 25.8 points per game.