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BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) talks with forward Kanon Catchings (6) during an NCAA men’s basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
AJ Dybantsa, Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings are going places, and when they do, it will be Justin Young’s job to find their replacements.
Young is in his first year as BYU’s director of recruiting for his younger brother, Kevin, who is the head coach.
Planning for the future is his business, and while Dybantsa doesn’t get to campus until next fall, and Demin and Catchings are struggling in their college debuts, the NBA is coming for them, and sooner rather than later.
“He’s just a dude. He’s just a dude,” Justin Young told the “Y’s Guys” podcast this week about Dybantsa, the nation’s top-rated player out of Utah Prep in Hurricane. “I’ve done this for 25 years, he’s up there. He is in that rare hall of guys that are an impact.”
BYU signee AJ Dybantsa
Dybantsa went on ESPN in December to announce his commitment to BYU — choosing the Cougars over Kansas, North Carolina and Alabama.
He is projected to be the overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft after one season at BYU. His alpha-dog antics on the court have the Cougars licking their chops.
“You look at (Duke freshman) Cooper Flagg and the way he started the season where there were some growing pains and then last week he goes off for 42 points,” Young said. “He’s in this zone where he knows, ‘I’m the guy, I’m out there, no one can stop me, no one can defend me, no one can get me off my game.’ I think AJ has that similar, if not better mindset. That dude is so competitive.”
Utah Prep guard AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts after dunking against Duncanville during a high school boys basketball game as part of Lehi Holiday Hoopfest held at Lehi High School in Lehi on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Dybantsa is 6-foot-9 and can play any position, but he thrives with the ball in his…
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Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2025-01-15 21:16:00
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