It has been quite the whirlwind for the top college basketball recruit in the country. After leading his team, Utah Prep School, in points and rebounds, AJ Dybantsa capped it off with a commitment to Brigham Young University.
There, he will play for Kevin Young and be a leader in what the coach hopes to turn into a factor for the NBA.
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The 6-foot-9 forward, originally from Brockton, Massachusetts, reclassified in October 2023 so he could be ready to play college basketball starting in the fall of 2025. He made his announcement to play for the Cougars in December 2024.
That announcement was important for many, as he chose Brigham Young over programs such as Alabama, UConn, Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina and many others.
His friendship off the court seems to be something not enough fans are talking about. On Wednesday, Dybantsa had a message for Alijah Arenas, who was released from the hospital following a scary car crash earlier in the week.
“God is good, welcome home brother,” Dybantsa posted.
AJ Dybantsa sends a message to Alijah Arenas via an Instagram post.AJ Dybantsa, Instagram
The Arenas family released a statement following his release:
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“We are grateful to share that Alijah Arenas has been released from the hospital and is now resting comfortably under close watch.”
Arenas is the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas. He chose to play his college basketball at USC and also reclassified to the 2025 class. He played his high school basketball at Chatsworth High School in Los Angeles.
Utah Prep Academy forward AJ Dybantsa (3).Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Dybantsa is part of a recruiting class ranked 11th in the country by On3 Sports. The Cougars have three players signed, including Dybantsa. The other two are Xavion Staton, a 7-foot center from Las Vegas who also attended Utah Prep, and Chamberlain Burgess from American Fork, Utah.
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The transfer portal has also been kind to Young and the Cougars. Rob Wright, Kennard Davis and Dominique Diomande have all joined the program. Wright comes over from Baylor, where he was highly regarded following his time at Montverde Academy.
It was Young’s first season at the helm of the Cougars. They reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 but gave up 113 points in a loss to Alabama. Brigham Young finished third in the Big 12 Conference with a 14-6 record.
Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit is Turning Heads With New Post
