BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Named To Preseason AP All-America Team
Oct 20, 2025, 11:22 AM
PROVO, Utah – BYU men’s basketball freshman phenom AJ Dybantsa was named to the AP Preseason All-America team heading into his freshman season with the Cougars.
The five-player group was announced on Monday, October 20.
RELATED: BYU Basketball Debuts At No. 8 In First AP Top 25
AP PRESEASON ALL AMERICAN pic.twitter.com/il7aUDjZHt
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) October 20, 2025
Dybantsa begins his Cougar career as the highest-rated recruit in program history.
The nation’s No. 1 recruit had nearly every major program jockeying for his services, but chose to play in Provo. The athletic 6-9 forward is an efficient scorer who finishes strong at the rim, has a good midrange game and is a superb defender — attributes that have him projected as a potential No. 1 overall NBA draft pick. – John Marshall
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AP Preseason All-America Team
- Braden Smith, Purdue (57)
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech (52)
- Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan (30)
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU (22)
- Alex Condon, Florida (16)
Smith was the only player to be a unanimous selection after he shunned the NBA and return to Purdue. Purdue was is the Preseason AP No. 1 team entering the 2025-26 season.
AJ Dybantsa doesn’t disappoint in BYU debut
The 6’9 freshman shone in every respect of his college debut, putting up 30 points in an exhibition game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
AJ Dybantsa today:
30 Points
7 rebounds
3 assists
3 steals
10/19 FG
2/4 3P
8/8 FT(🎥 @PDTScouting )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 18, 2025
He led the Cougars in minutes (31), shot-attempts and makes (10-of-19), points, and steals (3) while going a perfect eight of eight from the free throw line.
Impressively, Dybantsa did not shy away from contact, drawing a team-high seven fouls.
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No. 8 BYU opens the regular season ion the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas against the Villanova Wildcats on Monday, November 3. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. MT.
Find BYU’s entire 2025-26 men’s basketball schedule here.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
