What does future hold for BYU down the homestretch?

This article was first published in the Cougar Insiders newsletter before BYU’s game against UCF. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each week.

AJ Dybantsa is playing like the best player in the country and the rest of the world is coming around with nods and thumbs up.

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Sam Vecenie, a college basketball analyst for The Athletic (New York Times), put it this way: “Think the big thing with me on AJ Dybantsa is the way he’s problem-solving in-game quicker and quicker. Early in the season, it took him until the second half sometimes to recognize and adjust to how defenses are playing him. Against Iowa State, he did it in nine minutes.”

Vecenie broke down Dybantsa’s game vs. Iowa State, saying, “I think this was the best, most well-rounded game that any draft prospect has played this season.”

Following his 29-point, 10-rebound, nine-assist game in a win over the Cyclones, Dybantsa earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors for the second time, Big 12 Newcomer of the Week accolades for the sixth time and made the Big 12 Starting Five for the 10th time. Veteran college basketball guru Dick Vitale had him on his national award billboard for his performance.

Seth Davis, editor and founder of Hoops HQ, noted that Dybantsa’s work against Iowa State “might be the best two-way performance of any player this season.”

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His coach, Kevin Young, told reporters after that win that Dybantsa was unbelievable and could do whatever he wanted on the court.

Before the UCF game, in his last six games in a Cougar uniform, here are Dybantsa’s numbers:

29 points | 10 rebounds | 9 assists

35 points | 13-28 shooting | 7 rebounds

20 points | 13 rebounds | 8 assists

36 points | 14-20 shooting | 5 rebounds | 7 assists

28 points | 9-14 shooting | 5 rebounds | 4 assists

36 points | 13-20 shooting | 7 rebounds | 4 assists

Comparisons to Kansas star freshman Darryn Peterson, another freshman considered a top NBA pick, are beginning to slant toward Dybantsa.

Sean Paul…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/does-future-hold-byu-down-183000020.html

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Publish date : 2026-02-26 18:30:00

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