Dbantsa was the MVP of the U19 FIBA 2025 Basketball Tournament.

The freshman forward is averaging almost 20 points a game for the Cougars.

AJ has a name, image and likeness deal with Red Bull.

The saga of A. J. Dybantsa is one of ever-evolving progression.

By that, I mean so much is being made of the young man who honed his basketball game on the streets of Brockton. After one year at St. Sebastian’s School, Dybantsa left Massachusetts for Utah Prep Academy. It was a case of the young man seeking a higher level of competition on the national scene. At present, he is playing a starring role as a freshman for the Cougars of Brigham Young University.

Dybantsa arrived at BYU following a successful run with the U.S under-19 team, which won the gold medal in the FIBA International Competition. Team USA U-19 blasted the previously unbeaten German squad in the championship game 109-76. Dybantsa was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, averaging 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Both the U.S. and German teams entered the championship game with 6-0 records. The U.S. team, with Dybantsa and a deeply talented American squad, proved too much for the Germans, who were led by Texas Tech standout Christian Anderson Jr., an All-Big 12 freshman star. What impressed most basketball talent evaluators was Dybantsa’s versatility and ability to be an impact player at both ends of the floor. The all-encompassing magic word — “potential” — was lathered all over Dybantsa, despite his subpar three-point shooting (11.1%), which didn’t lower his value in the eyes of people who feel he could be the number one draft pick in the 2026 College Draft.

The number one pick in last year’s collegiate draft was clear cut: Cooper Flagg from Duke University. And even though Dybantsa is a top draft pick, he is not an overwhelming choice to be the number one pick in 2026. He will have stiff competition from Duke freshman sensation Cameron Boozer, as well as Darryn Peterson (Kansas University) and Mikel Brown,Jr. (Louisville University).

Brown raised his draft stock and number one potential with his stellar play in the World Cup, leading Team USA in scoring (14.9) and assists (6.1) on 46/47/82 shooting splits. His combination of skill and feel as a lead guard will attract many NBA teams lining up to have him run the show. At this stage, he is a “more-ready” NBA player than Dybantsa, but is a smaller 6 feet 3 inches. Dybantsa is a legitimate 6-foot, 9-inch player with considerable “upside” potential. He impressed talent evaluators with his performance against third-ranked Connecticut, scoring 25 points and hauling down 10 rebounds in his team’s 86-84 loss.

Some equate Dybantas’ talent to that of NBA veteran Paul George, particularly his ball-handling skills. His slender physique leads others to believe he will struggle against bigger, stronger NBA players. Cameron Boozer could also move ahead of Dybantsa due to his body type and the NBA “DNA he inherited from his father (former NBA player) Carlos Boozer. The younger Boozer had been a dominant player long before he played his first game as a freshman for Duke. The two-time Gatorade National High School Player of the Year has quickly adjusted to the college game, averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for the fourth-ranked Blue Devils after five games. He is a legitimate 6-foot, 8-inch player with all-around skills equal to, and in some opinions, superior to Dybantsa.

So, what makes A. J. Dybantsa so attractive to NBA evaluators? His size, wingspan, speed, shot-blocking ability and “motor” (a term used to describe his stamina and endurance) put him in a special category as a player with the “potential” to be a dominant two-way player in the NBA.

The word “potential” is one of the most overused words in sports. On his current path, Dybantsa has to be considered as one of the top college basketball players in America. But does that truly equate to “star performer” in the National Basketball Association?

When you have seen the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Bam Adebayo and other “impact players” who have dominated the National Basketball League, I would be very hesitant to put Dybantsa anywhere in the conversation — yet. He will have to work hard to put his name alongside those of Kevin Durant and other great forwards to play in the NBA. He has skills, but none comparable to the aforementioned All Stars. But in fairness, let’s give him a chance to show just how good he can be.

We have provided a few examples of players whom he will be compared to when he enters the professional ranks. He is not as dominant as any of the players mentioned at this point in his freshman college basketball season. Let’s wait and see how he develops and just what kind of baller he will turn out to be. The future is always a mystery, but the start of the story, A. J. Dybantsa, is bright. Stay tuned.