Kevin Young just booked a college-recruiting SpaceX ride.
The signing of No. 1 high school recruit AJ Dybantsa from Utah Prep looms as a blockbuster move by the first-year BYU coach. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound superstar told ESPN’s “First Take” he chose BYU because Young could develop him like his idol Kevin Durant.
The move left a lot of blue-blood college programs taken aback. Dybantsa is the kind of player that would usually find his way to Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky or Kansas. That he chose to go to Provo is not only unique, but newsy.
His final choices were Alabama, North Carolina, Kansas and BYU.
Obviously, one of the factors in his decision was the money. Dybantsa will get his share of NIL money from Cougar boosters who work with the Royal Blue Collective. This is in addition to deals he’s already signed with Nike and Red Bull.
Dybansta, an elite ballhandler who can score from distance, work the midrange game and create his own shot off the dribble, is the kind of player Young can use to help build his program in Provo.
Why?
This just opened a new avenue for Young’s staff to hit both the transfer portal and high school ranks and surround those players with complementary talent.
Dybantsa will attract an army of NBA scouts at both practices in Provo and road games wherever the Cougars travel next season. We’ve already seen this with current freshman Egor Demin, a projected lottery pick in 2025.
It helps immensely that Young is well connected with all of these scouts and evaluators with his extensive background as an NBA coach over the years. He’s been conversing with them for decades about talent, development and updates.
I wouldn’t expect it, but Dybantsa’s arrival could impact future decisions by current stars Demin and Kanon Catchings to either go or stay for another year. Certainly, it would be a top consideration by veteran Richie Saunders.
Don’t count out what Dybantsa will bring to recruiting with his own cellphone.
Dybantsa told ESPN hosts he has friends he’d like to approach to join him in Provo.
Because of the attention coming his way, Dybantsa has plenty of talented friends he’s associated with during travels worldwide and his influence with them may lead to conversations BYU rarely gets — if ever — in any other way.
Well, that isn’t exactly accurate, if you look at the past year with Demin and Catchings. Young has already opened doors in recruiting since he replaced Mark Pope, doors that had not opened for the Cougar program in years past.
While there are some five-star recruits still uncommitted on 247Sports’ top-10 list, players like power forwards Nate Ament (Warrenton, Virginia), Koa Peat (Gilbert, Arizona), Caleb Wilson (Atlanta, Georgia), and combo guard Brayden Burries from San Bernardino, California, Dybantsa’s recruiting influence could more fully impact transfers.
In the coming months, portal transfers will follow a familiar path, loading up with players who are looking for better conditions and deals. This constant movement in college sports through the portal can have instant impact on programs, if they have the resources from collectives.
With BYU showing its collective is active and strong for NIL deals and Dybantsa working his contacts and associations to ensure he is surrounded with help, this is a river BYU basketball has never floated down before.
With so many potential pieces to fit together, so many egos to manage and talent to develop, there may not be a better coach than Young to manage it all because of his experience in dealing with NBA players. These players have told Dybantsa, Demin and Catchings that Young can handle it.
Dybantsa told media after his announcement that he chose BYU primarily because of the developmental aspects he would receive from Young. “It’s an NBA staff and it’s a chance for me to develop.” He said it is a priority to increase his accuracy as a 3-point shooter and get it above 40%.
Expectations will be high for Young, BYU and Dybantsa in his freshman year. Signing a projected future No. 1 pick, however, doesn’t automatically vault a team into the Final Four or even Sweet 16. Remember, Kevin Durant led Texas to the NCAA Tournament, where they won one game before being ousted by USC in the second round. Durant had 30 points in that game and it wasn’t enough.
On his recent trip to Alabama, Dybantsa was accompanied by Burries and another Atlanta five-star player, shooting guard Meleek Thomas.
How big was Tuesday for BYU athletics? Well, folks who are paid to know say Dybantsa is a generational-type player and right now is No. 1 in the 2026 NBA draft.
We’ve never witnessed one like this before.
