Expectations were already high when the school year began for freshmen AJ Dybantsa, Jane Hedengren, Kihei Akina and Bear Bachmeier — and months later, BYU’s “Fantastic Four” are still firing on all cylinders.
In just the last week, Dybantsa made history at the Big 12 Tournament, Hedengren won two national titles at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Akina turned heads on the PGA Tour and Bachmeier marched the football team deeper into his first spring practice.
These are different times at BYU with different athletes.
Adding to their appeal is the fact that each one has immersed themselves in their own BYU experience — athletically, academically and spiritually. In the last month, Dybantsa has talked more enthusiastically to TV broadcasters about his Book of Mormon class than about being the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
These four are not all of the same faith, but they are believers in themselves and what BYU can do for them. In many ways, they are walking billboards, uniquely aligned in a quest for excellence that gives Cougar athletics the kind of street cred that will attract others just like them.
AJ Dybantsa
By burying a last-minute 3-point shot against Houston on Thursday, Dybantsa broke Kevin Durant’s long-standing Big 12 Tournament scoring record with 93 points in three days. He watched his stock spike to the top of the NBA draft board and he is receiving first-team All-America accolades by one national outlet after another.
With eight points during Thursday’s NCAA Tournament game, Dybantsa, the nation’s leading scorer, will become the second highest scorer in a single season in BYU history — a basketball history that dates back to 1902.
What makes Dybantsa endearing to so many is the fact that the Big 12 Freshman of the Year is as humble as he is confident. He plays like a selfless senior but is only months removed from being 18, and even after the rigors of playing 40 minutes, whether BYU wins or loses, Dybantsa will stand with the fans and sign autographs until everybody has one.
As a young boy, when he wasn’t pretending to be Spider-Man, Dybantsa was dreaming of playing in the Big Dance — a dream that will come true Thursday and where he will proudly represent Cougar Nation when he steps onto the court.
Jane Hedengren
When it comes to distance running, nobody is faster than Jane Hedengren, at least in the 3,000-meters and 5,000-meters. At her first NCAA indoor national championships on Friday, Hedengren finished first in 15:00.12 — three seconds faster than the runner-up. The win earned her First Team All-America status and brought BYU its first indoor individual title since 2022.
On Saturday, she ran the 3,000-meter race in 8:36.61 to become the first BYU woman to win two national titles at the same championship meet.
Last fall, Hedengren raced three times during the cross-country regular season and won all three. She ran to the Big 12 individual title in record-setting form and finished second behind an Alabama senior at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Even while running like a gazelle, the Timpview grad and freshman phenom remains grounded — loyal to her teammates, her family and her faith. She is a nice champion, friendly and courteous — a dream to coach according to Diljeet Taylor.
Hedengren is having a year for the ages and BYU’s outdoor season hasn’t even started yet. So long as there is good health ahead, additional championships, even gold medals seem well within her grasp.
Kihei Akina
With his first shot at the Puerto Rico Open on March 5 and his last putt at the R.E. Lampkin Invitational on March 10, BYU freshman Kihei Akina did more in six days than most golfers will accomplish in a lifetime.
An impressive -10 earned Akina a top 20 (T-16) and best amateur finish at the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open. Days later, the Lone Peak High grad won his first collegiate title by one stroke at the Lampkin Invitational in San Diego.
The flurry of flights, car rentals, hotel food and minimal sleep did nothing to frustrate his confidence and concentration — traits molded by his family. The soft-spoken, faith-driven, straight-driving youngster has winning in his blood.
Even before his first class at BYU, Akina’s mystique in Provo was already growing as he claimed the Larry H. Miller Utah Open on Aug. 17 at Riverside Country Club. With a stunning 17-under total, Akina became the youngest champion in the 99-year history of the tournament.
He and the Cougars will take their swings at the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational in Napa Valley, California, on March 23-24 as Akina’s freshman year continues to pick up speed.
Bear Bachmeier
BYU has been playing football for over 100 years, but Bear Bachmeier turned 2025 into a season of firsts. Not only did he become the first true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback for the Cougars, but he also became the first to win 12 games, the first to take BYU to the Big 12 championship tilt and the first to earn a No. 11 ranking in the season ending AP Top 25.
Along the way, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound teen ran past the likes of Taysom Hill and Steve Young to set the program record for most quarterback touchdown runs in a season (11). Additionally, Bachmeier was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week seven times, which culminated with Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors.
As he did it, he remained true to his humble persona. Even in the wake of so much early success, Bachmeier regularly deflects individual praise toward his teammates. He credits the coaches for his development and honors his family with his demeanor.
Having joined the Cougars last summer, Bachmeier is midway through his first spring camp with expectations soaring for his sophomore season.
Signature moments
Dybantsa, Hedengren, Akina and Bachmeier are just kids, but they are team-first and capable of individual conquests; each has a signature moment from their freshman year.
Leading 17-14 late in the fourth quarter, Bachmeier, dragging Utah defenders along the way, ran 22 yards for a touchdown to put the game away for BYU.
Trailing 43-22 at halftime to Clemson at Madison Square Garden in New York, Dybantsa came alive in the second half to bring the Cougars back. The 6-foot-9 all-purpose player outscored the Tigers by himself 22-21 in the second half. He finished with 28 points and set the table from Rob Wright’s buzzer-beater to win the game 67-64.
Running at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston, Hedengren turned in the fastest time in the 5,000-meter in NCAA history (14:44.79) and the second fastest by an American — ever.
Firing the lowest 54-hole score of his career (14 under) Akina charged back from five shots down on the final day of the R.E. Lampkin Invitational in San Diego. Calm and determined, Akina sank a birdie putt on the final hole to win his first collegiate championship by one stroke.
None of these “Fantastic Four” athletes are perfect and while they are each driven by a team-first mentality, their individual abilities have them breathing rare air, and the rarity of all four competing like they are at BYU has made this year second to none — even fantastic.
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.