2 Likes
This is huge! KY and staff just continue to be tremendous recruiters. The program just got a lot stronger.
1 Like
So, it isn’t just the money. Other teams offered more. It’s everything BYU has to offer.
I can’t believe anyone thinks he will actually play for us and not transfer somewhere else.
Egor Demin and Catchings say he will come play for BYU.
He already signed for the year…
No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa picks BYU basketball in historic $7 million move
7 million reasons why AJ plays for BYU
Watching his high lights, he can create his own shots and shoot over players even when guarded close. We usually get guys who if guarded tightly miss the entire rim and backboard. He drives well and stays under control. Mostly our players look like contortion artists and flopping onto the ground when they do.
He will be a “One and Done” and with Kevin Young rep for developing players on the next level says a lot about the “why”.
No. 1 RECRUIT AJ DYBANTSA PICKS BYU! What does it mean for BYU Athletics? - YouTube
3 min mark
“My ultimate goal is to get to the NBA, and he coached my all-time favorite player (Kevin Durant) and had high praise about him,” Dybantsa said on “First Take.” “I went on my visit, and the head coach down to the analytics guy, then the analytics guy all the way down to the dietician is all NBA staff, even the strength guy.
Want more proof that the hiring of Young last April has been a stroke of genius for BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe? On “First Take,” Dybantsa’s father, Ace, said he would like to see his son play for the Phoenix Suns — Young’s former employer.
how many schoolies are left for next year
We lose Foos, Knell, Mag and Stewart. and Demin is a one and done. for now…Catchings should stay for one more year for a higher draft
AJ is the 8th player with a 1.000 247 rating in the 22 years 247 has been rating players. All 7 of the previous 7 were top 3 picks in the NBA.
There are some that ask: why does this matter that BYU picked up the top rated player in the land?
1 players want to win. sure the NBA is the final prize but players want to be surrounded with a team of winners. Le Bron has spent his NBA career recruiting guys to play with him for RINGS
AJ will be opening recruiting doors BYU could of never entered, mark it down
going to be a fun year watching other’s sign up to play with AJ
Watch his highlights. With defenders who can stay with him, he scores with them in his face. Something BYU players to this point can’t do. Catchings has some trouble at times with it. Catchings needs another year of strength and weight development. AJ needs another 20 to 30 pounds of muscle on him. Both players will get that at BYU. Demin could use another year in my opinion. And, he seems to enjoy college too. What’s the rush?
I was worried that he might not sign. I imagined the following conversation.
AJ: what can BYU do for me?
KY: we will prepare you for the NBA
AJ: watches Demin and Catchings “being prepared” through the season so far with underwhelming performances.
AJ: …
AJ: I’ma go somewhere else.
I guess I don’t understand the preparation process. I expect one and dones to dominate or have strong performances and for the most part that hasn’t happened. Saunders and Foos have been more dominant.
Ahhh… you see what I see. Demin has shot very well and passes well. He plays good defense as well. He had one bad game. But, I really think he could develop more in many ways including strength and conditioning. Catchings as well. Both obviously have a lot of skill most players like Foose, Saunders Hall didn’t have as first year in college ball.
If the NBA will take a chance on you and pay you while “learning”, why not? Its just like an apprenticeship in other fields.
$7 million NIL money to come for one year. This makes me lose interest, the semi-pro (or outright pro, with this money) nature of D1 sports. It isn’t the Toolson, Smith, Chatman, Haws teams I grew up with. We get foreign mercenary transfer portal athletes, or big money athletes, and then they portal away or enter the draft.
My interest in BYU sports is far below what it once was. I still follow them, sort of, but I can take or leave it.
no legit source says 7 million…and much of his NIL is not dependent on BYU, he already has contracts with Nike and some caffeine drink paying million plus contracts…
How it Happened: The Path that Got AJ Dybantsa to BYU - Vanquish The Foe
this article needs to be read and understood by the national media that is echoing the NIL money is the reason…
not that the pay was not in the ballpark of the other top high school players, but what other coach/program would have made such an impression?
I agree with some things you said. This NIL deal makes no sense.