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The AJ Dybantsa sweepstakes is going to be one of the most expensive recruitments in the history of college basketball, if not the most expensive recruitment of all-time. He is expected to land an NIL deal worth no less than $3 million to play just one single season at his future program.
Dybantsa is already projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft as the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2025.
The 6-foot-9, 200-pound small forward has a wingspan that reaches seven feet. His on-court play is even more impressive than his intangibles.
Dybantsa averaged 19.1 points and 9.6 rebounds at St. Sebastian’s School in Massachusetts last season. He also helped to lead Team USA to a U17 World Cup championship with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists per game.
Needless to say, Dybantsa is a can’t-miss talent. Every team in the country would love to have him, but only one will get him on campus next fall. That will be costly.
Pete Nakos of On3 did a really cool in-depth breakdown of the expensive recruitment, titled: “Inside AJ Dybantsa’s whirlwind recruitment that’s pushing NIL to new limits.”
Dybantsa is going to make as much as $4.5 million for one single season of college basketball when it’s all said and done. The exact number is unknown at this point but his father told Nakos it will probably exceed $3 million. NIL opportunities depend on the school.
Where will AJ Dybantsa play college basketball?
Alabama and Kansas State are in the mix. BYU is the clear frontrunner.
Yes, the Cougars are actually in the lead!
Nakos spoke with sources close to the program in Provo, which just hired former Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young to replace Mark Pope. The NIL pool is very deep.
Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith is a BYU alumnus. As is Danny Ainge, the CEO of basketball operations. They are reportedly prepared to spend whatever amount of money necessary to get Dybantsa to commit to their alma mater. Young has an open checkbook on which to recruit.
Here’s the thing.
Dybantsa’s father told Nakos that his son is unaware of the NIL offers. He wants him to make a decision on where to play without factoring money into the equation.
If Dybantsa somehow decides to play at, say, Eastern Michigan, that is his decision to make. The family will leave whatever money was offered to him at other programs on the table for him to play where he really wants to play.
However, as weird as it might sound for the No. 1 recruit to commit to BYU over other blue blood programs, the Cougars make a compelling case.
Perhaps most importantly, AJ Dybantsa can play in an NBA system for a NBA coach who most recently worked with Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. The Big 12 might also be the best conference in college basketball and the atmosphere at a Cougars’ home game is always one of the best in the country. AND he could get paid $4 million or more for, essentially, nine months of work.
It sure feels inevitable at this point!