Dybantsa, projected top pick in '26 NBA draft, commits to BYU - ESPN

A.J. Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 wing player who is the No. 1 prospect in high school basketball and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, announced his commitment to BYU on Tuesday morning.

Dybantsa, who made his announcement on ESPN's First Take, chose the Cougars over Alabama, North Carolina and Kansas. He becomes the first five-star recruit to commit to BYU since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007.

«At BYU, the whole staff from the head coach on down came from the NBA,» Dybantsa told ESPN. «Head coach Kevin Young coached my favorite player in KD (Kevin Durant), and coached Devin Booker. Both had a lot of good things to say about him. We watched clips of both.»

BYU had positioned itself toward the top of Dybantsa's list shortly after new head coach Kevin Young took over the Cougars last spring. Young flew to meet Dybantsa's parents during the NBA playoffs last spring when he was still on the Phoenix Suns' staff, and then hosted Dybantsa for a visit in late June. Dybantsa also took his final official visit to BYU's campus in October.

Dybantsa consistently pointed to all the NBA ties at BYU — even the program's strength and conditioning coach, Michael Davie, was with the Milwaukee Bucks and the director of nutrition, Danielle LaFata, came from the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury.

«Coach Young's NBA background played a big factor in my decision,» Dybantsa said. «He came from the NBA. He coached NBA players. You cannot get any closer to where I want to be.»

Several other schools were involved during the process, with Kansas State hosting Dybantsa in late August before failing to make his final list of four. He also visited Kansas, Alabama and North Carolina — with his father, Ace, attending last week's Alabama