Incoming BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa has all of the talent, support, and team around him to deliver on the massive expectations that follow him to Provo. To make that weight just a little heavier, count me among those who believe he's going to win this year's Wooden Award as the country's best player. Here's why:
He's on Cooper Flagg's level as a generational talent
Duke's Cooper Flagg just won the Wooden Award for his stellar play last season and was then the unquestioned No. 1 overall pick in this year's NBA Draft. In his only college season, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists with excellent shooting percentages as a jumbo wing. AJ Dybantsa shares many things in common with Cooper Flagg, including both being unstoppable 6-foot-9 wings who have carried the "generational talent" label for years.
When head-to-head comparisons are made between Dybantsa and Flagg, they're often viewed as equally talented.
In an On3 article, ESPN's Paul Biancardi is on the record stating about half of NBA general manages would draft Dybantsa over Flagg. "I think it’s 50/50 right now, when I speak to the NBA scouts,” Biancardi is quoted as saying. “Half of them would take Cooper Flagg, the other half would take AJ Dybantsa.”
Cooper Flagg easily won the Player of the Year last year. AJ Dybantsa has the talent to do the same this year.
Dybantsa is surrounded by the right people in Provo
When it comes to winning national Player of the Year, situation matters. AJ will be playing in the perfect situation in Provo.
Coach Kevin Young knows how to develop NBA talent. He guided Egor Demin as a one-and-done BYU player who was recently selected No. 8 overall. Under Young's tutelage, Richie Saunders blossomed into an All-Big 12 First Team player and was recognized as the Big 12's Most Improved Player. While AJ Dybantsa possesses God-given abilities, he's still just 18 years old and his game needs refining. Kevin Young and his NBA-level staff will do just that.
Additionally, the players surrounding Dybantsa are perfect to highlight and even elevate his game. Baylor transfer point guard Rob Wright is an excellent floor general guiding the offense. Richie Saunders is already one of the best players in the Big 12 and hits over 40% of his 3-pointers. Center Keba Keita is the perfect pick-and-roll partner. The Cougars will surround Dybantsa with a host of additional 3-point snipers, opening driving lanes for him to exploit.
BYU's offense has the potential to overwhelm opposing defenses.
AJ Dybantsa is in the perfect situation at BYU to pick defenses apart.
BYU should compete for a national title
Now, there are a lot of good players in college basketball who put up gaudy numbers, but they aren't considered candidates for national Player of the Year because they do so on irrelevant teams.
Most Wooden Award winners play on teams that compete for national titles.
BYU should be among the nation's elite teams this year. ESPN recently ranked the Cougars as the No. 6 team in the country which is the same ranking the USA Today gave Kevin Young's squad. 247Sports has BYU as the No. 8 team in the nation. CBS Sports listed BYU among the top five teams that are most likely to win their school's first ever national championship.
People who know college hoops have AJ Dybantsa and the BYU Cougars among the short list of national contenders.
In the end, the Cougars should have massive success as a team this year and AJ Dybantsa will become BYU's third Wooden Award winner, joining Jimmer Fredette (2011) and Danny Ainge (1981) before him.