Life is full of twists and turns, and the Dybantsas have twisted and turned as much as anyone. The surprises along the way for Ace and Chelsea have been frequent, but none bigger than making their home in Provo, Utah. In fact, 20 months ago, none of the Dybantsas, including their young BYU basketball star AJ, had ever heard of Provo.
“Sometimes I have to pinch myself,” Ace told the “Y’s Guys” livestream show this week. “I’m in Utah of all places. A kid from Africa is in Utah. We love it here. People have been great to us. They have embraced our family and have definitely embraced AJ.”
For Chelsea, who hails from Jamaica, her “Utah moment” came when the family attended their first basketball game at the Marriott Center last December following AJ’s announcement that the nation’s top recruit was coming to BYU.
“AJ went up into the stands. It was such a great feeling. I could see how it was going to be. The students embraced him and he was having a ball. I was picturing him on the court during that time,” Chelsea told the “Y’s Guys.” “What I love about Utah is the mountains. Coming out of the house and a mountain is right beside you — it’s a surreal experience coming from the East Coast.”
Benching Spiderman
Long before AJ wanted to be a basketball player, Anicet (his real name) longed to be an Avenger.
“He was tall when he was born,” said Ace. “I knew at some point he would play basketball. He didn’t want to at first. He was into Spiderman.”
The Christmas morning when AJ found a Spiderman action figure under the tree in Brockton, Massachusetts, still ranks among his greatest days ever.
“He was in love with Spiderman,” Ace said. “Everything about him.”
“Everything,” laughed Chelsea. “I bought him sneakers, jackets, PJs — everything was Spiderman.”
It wasn’t until the eighth grade that AJ caught a glimpse of his potential on the court and sent Spiderman to the bench. Ace contends he remains a kid, even as he stands 6 feet, 9 inches tall and is still growing.
Why BYU?
Ace and Chelsea visited BYU long before AJ did. They arrived on campus shortly after Kevin Young was hired on April 16, 2024. Young was still in Phoenix coaching the Suns in the NBA playoffs. He flew to Provo to meet them and make his pitch, which focused on his ability to prepare AJ for the league.
“I told him, ‘You don’t have to convince me. You have to convince my son, cuz I’m not the one who is going to play,’” Ace said. “He said, ‘Give me a chance and we’ll see what happens.’”
Ace was impressed by Young.
“I had been a cop for 19 years. I know BS when I see it,” Ace said. “He was sincere and everything he said — he delivered.”
Following the visit, Ace encouraged AJ to visit BYU. The young prep phenom was hesitant.
“I’m like — trust me. I’m not saying you are going to go to BYU,” Ace said. “Just go visit.”
The decision
AJ visited campus twice and eventually narrowed his plethora of college suitors down to four — North Carolina, Kansas, Alabama and BYU. The plan was to announce his choice during Black History Month on Stephen A. Smith’s “First Take” program on ESPN.
“In mid-October, he came to my room and said, ‘Dad, if I decide to pick my school now, do we have to wait until February?’ I said, ‘No, just let me know. I’ll call Stephen A. and we’ll announce it,’” said Ace. “He said, ‘OK.’”
AJ surprised him two weeks later.
“Dad, I’m going to BYU,” AJ said.
“You are going where?” asked Ace.
“BYU,” said AJ.
“Why? Tell me why,” said Ace.
“KY. He brought in a pro staff, a dietitian and strength and condition guy,” said AJ.
“OK,” answered Ace.
AJ then told his dad he had called Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul to get “their take” on Young.
“You called those guys?” asked a surprise Ace.
“Yeah,” said AJ.
“OK, BYU it is!” said Ace.
Garden party
Ace has lived in the Boston area most of his life and had visited New York City many times, but it wasn’t until Dec. 9 that he first stepped into Madison Square Garden, where AJ and the Cougars were playing Clemson.
Prior to the game, the parents caught a glimpse of AJ’s king-sized billboard on display in Manhattan.
“What shocked me was to see the billboard,” Ace said. “They took my wife and I to check it out. We almost cried. My wife said, ‘Oh, my baby!’ I said, ‘That’s a big baby!’”
During the game, BYU fell behind by as many as 22 points before charging back. AJ outscored Clemson by himself, 22-21, in the second half, and Rob Wright’s 3-pointer at the buzzer won the game 67-64. In the world’s most famous arena, AJ stole the show with 28 points.
“It does not bother him. It’s 94 feet. It doesn’t matter where he plays,” said Ace. “I asked him a couple of years ago, ‘AJ, don’t you feel pressure?’ He said, ‘Dad, what pressure? It’s just basketball.’”
Young’s tutelage
From his first visit with Young 20 months ago to what he sees today, Ace remains impressed with his style. He likes that Young “doesn’t have to yell to get his point across.” He also sees a developing trait in his son that will help him long after he’s done at BYU.
“Leadership. You can tell he galvanized everybody,” Ace said of AJ’s team-first persona. “You saw what he can do on the court in Boston and New York — just being himself, but still unselfish.”
Ten games into the season, BYU is 10-1 and ranked No. 10. The Cougars disposed of Pacific on Tuesday and Abilene Christian on Friday. BYU wraps up nonconference play on Monday against Eastern Washington (7 p.m., ESPN+).
AJ has all the tools to leave his mark on BYU, and even if his time on the court only lasts one season, he will be back so BYU can leave its mark on him.
“Education means a lot to me,” said Chelsea. “I always say to my kids, that’s one thing someone can’t take away from you, so make sure to get your degree. AJ promised me that he will.”
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.