BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Earns National Player Of The Week Award
Dec 15, 2025, 1:58 PM | Updated: Dec 16, 2025, 12:51 pm
BYU basketball freshman AJ Dybantsa was named National Player of the Week. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images)
(Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa has been named the Lute Olson National Player of the Week.
The recognition is named after the former legendary Arizona head coach.
AJ Dybantsa named Lute Olson National Player of the Week
Dybantsa was excellent last week, helping BYU secure victories over Clemson in a come-from-behind performance and a blowout win over UC Riverside at the Marriott Center.
Dec. 15, 2025
AJ DYBANTSA EARNS LUTE OLSON AWARD NATIONAL PLAYER OF WEEK HONORS
BOSTON, MA – BYU’s AJ Dybantsa has been named the Lute Olson award National Player of the Week. The 6-foot-8 freshman helped the Cougars to a pair of wins last week.
WEEKLY RELEASE:… pic.twitter.com/bNA20QfasL
— College Insider Inc. (@collegeinsider) December 15, 2025
The star freshman was the catalyst behind BYU’s comeback from 22 points down to defeat Clemson. Dybantsa scored 28 points in the game, 22 of which were in the second half, as he outscored Clemson’s entire team (21) in the final 20 minutes.
Along with his 28 points, Dybantsa grabbed nine rebounds and dished out six assists as BYU defeated the Tigers, 67-64 at basketball’s “Mecca.”
Dybantsa only kept the momentum going as BYU returned home to the Marriott Center after 32 days away with 26 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and five steals in a 100-53 blowout win over UC Riverside.
The potential No. 1 NBA Draft pick averaged 27 points last week, along with 8.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 steals.
Dybantsa has BYU flying high during nonconference play
While Dybantsa earned National Player of the Week honors from the Lute Olson Award, the Brockton, Massachusetts native did not earn Big 12 Player of the Week. Dybantsa was named to the Big 12’s “Starting Five,” while Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr. took home the Player of the Week honor in the Big 12.
BYU is currently 9-1 overall and ranked No. 10 in the AP Top 25.
Dybantsa and BYU basketball will return to action on Tuesday, December 16, at home against the Pacific Tigers.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
