He asked Dybantsa why he picked BYU, what stood out about Young and his staff, and about his NBA goals.
Times are changing in college basketball, and with BYU signing the 6-foot-9 jumbo wing from Brockton, Massachusetts, by way of Utah Prep in Hurricane, the Cougars signaled they are changing with them.
But in signing Dybantsa, BYU sent a message: the Cougars are ready to be a contender in men’s basketball, and they are ready right now.
What’s also clear is that BYU is operating differently than ever before within the halls of the Marriott Center Annex.
“There are guys that are uncommitted that still got BYU in their top,” Dybantsa told ESPN.
— PROVO — seated at a table on the ESPN set of “First Take”. Stephen A was seated across a table from one of the Class of 2025’s overall recruits. He committed to Brigham Young University, changing both his life and the program, alongside Smith and Shannon Sharpe.
Under the leadership of first-year head coach Kevin Young, the Cougars secured the consensus top recruit for the first time in program history, defeating the remainder of the nation and the top four of Alabama, Kansas, and North Carolina.
Despite his confusion, Smith carried out his duties as a seasoned reporter would have before agreeing to a multimillion-dollar deal with the World’s Leading Sports Organization.
He questioned Dybantsa about Young and his staff’s qualities, his NBA aspirations, and why he chose BYU. Then he asked why BYU when he could play at a historic blue blood like North Carolina, where Michael Jordan was born, and play archrival Duke annually in one of the biggest showcases in sports.
Dybantsa sneered at the idea, “Who said I can’t play Duke at BYU?”.
True. College basketball is changing, and the Cougars indicated that they are changing with them when they signed the 6-foot-9 jumbo wing from Brockton, Massachusetts, through Utah Prep in Hurricane.
Not the commitment itself, but the fact that the Cougars had already signed the highest-rated recruit in program history during the NCAA’s early signing period a month earlier — and then kept it a secret — was perhaps the biggest surprise of Tuesday’s announcement that Dybantsa was committing to college.
When Utah Prep defeated top-ranked Link Academy at the 5 for the Fight National Hoopfest in Pleasant Grove, Dybantsa’s parents met with Young in April, when the first-year collegiate head coach was still juggling BYU and his former employer’s run in the NBA playoffs. For most programs, Dybantsa is a generational prospect who can turn around any school’s fortunes with his combination of size, skill, and passing.
His legend, however, might be even more legendary at BYU. In an era of social media, brand-building, names, images, and likenesses, he is instantly the biggest prospect to sign with the Cougars since 7-foot-6 big Shawn Bradley. However, even that comparison might not be as accurate.
However, by acquiring Dybantsa, BYU made it clear that the Cougars are prepared to compete in men’s basketball, and they are prepared now.
With estimates ranging from $4 million to $7 million, social media has been ablaze with speculation about Dybantsa’s NIL package with BYU. KSL . com was advised by a source familiar with the situation that those figures are probably high and that total NIL compensation differs from school-based compensation.
Regardless of the amount, Dybantsa might be worthwhile. Tyran Stokes, the 2026 top recruit who is already regarded as the No. 1 pick, Dybantsa, and Duke freshman Cooper Flagg were rated by roughly two dozen NBA coaches and scouts in an unofficial survey conducted by CBS Sports. More votes were cast for the Utah Prep senior than for Flagg and Stokes combined, earning him the first pick in the 2027 NBA draft.
In the case of Dybantsa, who already has a $4 million contract with Nike and recently joined Red Bull, a business worth over $20 billion, specific figures are irrelevant. The most important lesson is probably that BYU placed itself in the same NIL and recruitment neighborhood as the Tide, Tar Heels, and Jayhawks, among others.
Young stated that he was unaware of the reported numbers, saying, “The only thing I can really say on the NIL is they made it pretty clear that all the finalists were operating within the same structure and same scenarios.”. “When we started to take things seriously in that area, it became quite clear. “..”.
It’s also obvious that BYU is functioning in the Marriott Center Annex in a completely new way. Young hired a diverse staff that included former Big East great John Linehan, G League and international basketball whiz Will Voigt and Tim Fanning, and college basketball veterans Chris Burgess and Brandon Dunson. However, that’s just one aspect of the situation.
As the director of recruiting for the Cougars, he also brought on his older brother, Justin Young, who founded the national basketball recruiting service Hoop Seen.
Young added licensed nutritionist Danielle Lafata, who worked with the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Coyotes, and Arizona Cardinals after six years with the San Francisco Giants organization, including two World Series victories, and kept strength and conditioning coach Michael Davie, who had been with the Milwaukee Bucks for eight seasons.
In his commitment, Dybantsa even mentioned the entire staff, including the Cougars’ 2025 signing class and four-star recruits Xavion Staton and Chamberlain Burgess, in addition to the head coach, assistants, strength coach, and others.
Young stated that when people approach our employees, they discover that they are all good people with no ulterior motives and a common goal. Everyone contributes something special, whether it be their experience or area of expertise, and it’s not just the coaching staff.
“I believe those who genuinely care about improving themselves are aware of this and wish to capitalize on it. “,”.
It might just be the start.
Dybantsa told ESPN, “There are guys that are uncommitted that still got BYU in their top.”. “If they show up, I’m not self-centered; I can play with anyone in the nation. I think anyone can relate to my game.
Together, we’ll win a natty if they show up. However, I’m on my solo route if that’s the case. “.”.
