AJ has been jetting around before basketball gets serious. 1st he had 14 or so practices about 2 months too early and without 6 of our key players all because he will be playing for team USA. I attended a practice and what I got from it was AJ and Richie Saunders have a solid bro-mance.
Sucks that the others could not be there but they were tidying up things with loose ends and college finals. Dybantsa is hungry to learn from KY. He is quiet, unentitled, does not take plays off. goes hard on every play. He looks for team mates on the floor. And he will get any shot he wants. Richie is the same, always looking to improve, uber confident but humble.
Staton is a rim protector out of the Keba mold. he is quit possibly a better inside defender but don’t ask him to put the ball on the floor and dribble, Like Keba, he is not a guard.
Mboup really impressed me. He is raw, not ready for the live game yet but his athletism is there. he can shoot but excels inside as a defender, rebounder. In my opinion, @ 6’9, Mboup should play the 5 and leave Boscovic outside to shoot 3s. (Ky has said that Bosco could play the 5 at times but that was before he got Mboup on campus, this kid is a beast.
Now for the great news. Dybantsa was invited to Monoco for the gran Prix (car racing world wide is far larger than college BBall, I’m sure to rep the Red Bull sponsor. He is wearing BYU swag and seen by possibly Billions of race fans and just like that, BYU is getting more exposure from this one kid then all other sources of media…and that is before he has played one single game.
I would have to say that BYU’s NIL collective was paid in full before the season ever starts! AJ Dybantsa shows off BYU gear at Monaco Grand Prix – Deseret News
So as long as Keita is not injured for too long and Staton and Mboup progress the center should be fine for the year…and Staton and Mboup together for at least another year should hold down the center pretty well…
Scoring: Dybantsa is a three-level scorer with elite shot creation. He thrives in isolation, has a quick first step, and can finish through contact or pull up from deep.
Playmaking: While known for scoring, he’s a smart passer with improving vision—averaging nearly 4 assists per game at EYBL.
Athleticism: Explosive and fluid, he’s a nightmare in transition and can guard multiple positions thanks to his length and agility.
Flagg: The Two-Way Force
Defense: Flagg is a defensive savant. He’s a rim protector, switchable defender, and has elite timing—think Evan Mobley meets Draymond Green.
Basketball IQ: His feel for the game is off the charts. He makes winning plays without forcing the action.
Offense: While not as polished a scorer as Dybantsa, Flagg’s shot creation and shooting have improved dramatically, and he’s a strong passer from the high post.
I did find a bunch of articles from late last year with a 4.5 assists per game stat, this timing appears to be when he announced BYU commitment…the closest I could find for this last year is Stats - Utah Prep Athletes (Hurricane, UT) Varsity Basketball 24-25 which shows him at 3.2 assists per game.
his high school freshman year, when he won the Gatorade player of the year he averaged 2.9 assists. HIs years at prolific prep would be interesting but don’t seem to be readily available…meaning I am not taking the time to search for them more than I already have..
Yes, I am alive and well. Just not much of an off-season poster.
My oldest daughter is named AJ. Because 32 years ago I just wanted to get used to saying, “AJ, you are the best! AJ, you are awesome! AJ, I’m glad you are at BYU. AJ, I love you.” I must have had a premonition this day would come for BYU hoops. My AJ was actually the academic mentor for the basketball team for 3 years (Tyler Haws/KC era–definitely the coolest student job in history), so somehow this all seems to be coming together for me.
Forgotten in all the NIL noise is that a big star that signs with BYU and works his tail off will be loved by a truly gigantic, international alumni. Most fan bases forget most of their stars the day they finish playing. BYU is just different that way. The connections a player makes and love he gets from BYU alumni and fans worldwide will open financial doors he never considered. This is a big deal for BYU recruiting. Notre Dame has a similar tight knit alumni, but ND only has around 15k students–BYU is and has been turning out more than twice as many graduates for decades.
Imagine BYU football and basketball if Jay Hill and KY somehow stick around awhile!!!
Dybantsa: The Offensive Dynamo
Flagg: The Two-Way Force