BYU basketball’s past and future collided Wednesday.
BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa appeared on Wednesday’s episode of Jimmer Fredette’s podcast, “From the Logo with Jimmer Fredette.”
Fredette had high praise for Dybantsa before he even joined the show.
“He’s a really, really good young man, and he’s obviously an incredible basketball player and literally probably the best in the world at his age and not many people can say that,” Fredette said.
The conversation between Dybantsa, Fredette and co-host Spencer Linton ranged from discussing Dybantsa’s decision to come to BYU, experiencing fame at a young age, and being University 101 classmates with BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier.
Here are four takeaways from Dybantsa’s appearance on “From the Logo” podcast.
Why AJ Dybantsa chose BYU
Dybantsa admitted that he didn’t know anything about BYU before their offer. Dybantsa did his due diligence, though, and researched the university and basketball program.
“I look up BYU. All I see is Jimmermania, Jimmer Fredette. I’ve heard the name, but I’m like who is (this)? So I had to do my research. I see March Madness and I’m like, ‘Alright.’ I take my visit. I see the team banners in the annex. I’m like, ‘Alright, he got my respect,’” he said.
Dybantsa also reached out to one of his basketball heroes, Kevin Durant, for his opinion on BYU coach Kevin Young.
“I came here and then I learned about KY, so I hit up Kevin Durant. I asked him like, ‘What you know about him?’ He’s like, ‘Bro, great guy. Like you gonna love him. Trust me,’” he said.
When Dybantsa visited BYU, he was met by fans chanting his name at both the BYU football and basketball games he attended. That played a part in his decision to ultimately become a BYU Cougar.
“It was like, I can’t not come here. It’d be dumb of me if I don’t come here with all the support and the family atmosphere that it was,” he said.
Dybantsa once again refuted claims that he chose to go to BYU because the university offered him the largest NIL deal.
“My ultimate goal is obviously to go to the NBA, so I’m not trying to make ten times more money to go to a program that’s not as good as a BYU to just get more money,” he said. “I just tried to pick the best decision that’s going to prepare me for the NBA and which clearly we have an NBA program, an NBA-style offense, an NBA-style defense. KY brought NBA staff, Michael Davie and the strength program ... it’s all NBA.”
AJ Dybantsa on Kevin Young
Dybantsa called Young a “super chill, laidback” person. Growing up, Dybantsa was used to the type of coaches who would yell at you, but he said Young isn’t that type of coach.
He doesn’t have to yell for Dybantsa to listen to him.
“He has way better knowledge than I would say 90% of college coaches because of his NBA experience, so it’s like, even if he’s not yelling, it’d be dumb for me to not listen because he’s coached my favorite player,” Dybantsa said. “He’s coached Devin Booker, Chris Paul. Like it’s just going to be dumb for us not to listen.”
Dybantsa already feels like he has improved as a player since coming to Provo and being coached by Young.
“I think my defensive intensity level rose. Like, I thought I was always a two-way player, but there wasn’t as much passion as it is now,” he said. “I’m just trying to simplify my game, trying to do everything in less dribbles, not trying to be super, super fancy with everything.”
On experiencing fame at a young age
Dybantsa was one of the most famous high schoolers in the country. He grew up with a spotlight on him.
“That was hard because I’ve probably been in the limelight since I was like 13. I’m a kid. I’m hitting puberty with cameras on me,” he said.
His dad has reminded him that that will be part of his life if he accomplishes his dream of making it to the NBA.
“If you make it to the NBA, you got to answer questions after a loss. You’ve got to answer questions after this. So it’s like really prepping me for that next level. Not everybody is built to have cameras just following them around,” he said.
Dybantsa considers himself a “pretty laidback person” who doesn’t “want a lot of things in the limelight.”
“But it’s like a lot of people love me and love my story and want to see what I’m doing. So I try to provide it for them. That’s why I just created my YouTube channel so they can see like both sides of it,” he said.
He admits that being able to go somewhere without people recognizing him would be nice — he estimated that he takes at least 12 photos when he goes to Walmart — “but I do like the support. I’m never going to take the love and fans for granted,” he said.
He added, “At least, I can go to class. Jimmer couldn’t go.”
On giving back to the community
Dybantsa also discussed his love of helping others.
“I just think me and my family was just destined for it,” he said.
He shared the story of when his father took a 4-year-old Dybantsa and his family to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“He went to his middle school and he gave away pens and pencils, and then my dad told me, ‘One day, it’s going to be you,’” he said.
Dybantsa has lived up to his dad’s prediction. When Dybantsa signed his first NIL deal with Nike two years ago, he held a Nike backpack giveaway. The “full-circle moment” almost brought his dad to tears, he said.
“I think now I just enjoy it. I really like seeing kids smile off of me. When I was growing up, I wasn’t really like going to giveaways and stuff, so I’m happy I can be that for like the city of Brockton and traveling to Jamaica, where my mom’s from, and stuff like that,” he said.