BYU basketball is in unprecedented standing among the college basketball world, and that's thanks in large part to their 6-foot-9 stringy superstar, AJ Dybantsa. Dybantsa, the highest-rated player in his high school class (unless you ask 247, which swapped his place with Kansas' Darryn Peterson at the final moment), and the twin-turbine engine that elevates Kevin Young's Cougars to Final Four contention.
An elite scorer and shot-maker, Dybantsa's optimized frame in pair with his ginger touch at the rim allows him to elevate from anywhere on the floor and comfortably drop the ball through the cylinder, whether in the form of a vicious slam or a graceful jumper. Comparable to Kevin Durant, who has been well publicized as Dybansta's idol, he's open anywhere he's shooting, regardless of coverage.
He's herky-jerky in a smooth sort of way. Always perfectly under control, yet never entirely predictable in his offensive approach, he utilizes a deceptively-tight handle to staple-gun his defenders shoes to the court as he pirouettes, darts, and hangs around every obstacle between himself and the rim.
He entered the campus of BYU with the promise of a one-and-done collegiate career, and he's already well on his way to a top-three selection at the top of this loaded 2026 NBA Draft class.
NBADraft.net: 1st overall to Atlanta
CBS Sports: 2nd overall to Washington
ESPN: 2nd overall to Washington
No Ceilings: 3rd overall to Indiana
Bleacher Report: 3rd overall to Indiana
Richie Saunders is projected to go 52nd, per Bleacher Report.
So with the future in mind, it's important to understand his position in the current mock draft consensus with an eye on the current form of the amorphous blob that is predicting the future. Drafting is often something of a crapshoot. It can be obvious which players may be a sure-thing superstar, but often the best player in a draft doesn't go number one or is at least brought into question with high-end talent stuffing the top half, as has been evidenced by the occasional draft.
Can anybody tell me who the Atlanta Hawks drafted first overall in 2024? Does the name Maxime Raynaud mean anything to you? Good, because Raynaud was actually drafted this year out of Stanford; Atlanta drafted Zaccharie Risacher. This may be the first time you've heard that name since, well, the Summer of 2024, and for that, you should accept no shame.
My point is this: for many, AJ Dybantsa is not currently projected to go number one. This can change with the onset of the Big 12 in-conference schedule, especially if he shines against some of the strongest competition in the nation. Regardless, rostering a consensus top-three player is invaluable, and not being first makes Dybantsa's road to growth much clearer.