The 2 gears that power AJ Dybantsa’s engine — 1 that waits and the other that plays alpha angry

The man has two gears.

There’s the laid-back, considerate, happy-to-support AJ Dybantsa. Then there’s the ticked off, angry Dybantsa that obliterates defenses and takes over games for No. 10 BYU.

When Dybantsa won MVP honors at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, he was very much that first guy.

Gear 1.

In that championship series against the best players of his age in the world, Dybantsa was content to facilitate with Arizona-bound Koa Peat and others, play defense, assist and, when needed, drive, score, get fouled and make a ton of free throws to help his team remain undefeated.

I’d call that passive AJ.

When he led BYU to a furious second-half comeback against No. 2 UConn and then took over the game in his team’s dramatic 22-point comeback buzzer-beater win over Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic in Madison Square Garden in New York last week, he was very much that apex predator, an alpha dog.

That’s Gear 2.

That win over the ACC’s No. 23 Clemson was a classic, perhaps a season-defining moment for the Cougar freshman. It was at the right venue with the necessary eyeballs watching and rekindled chatter about just how good Dybantsa really can be.

The Jimmy V Classic was the most-watched ESPN audience for that event in five years.

On his weekly show on BYUtv, BYU head coach Kevin Young said Dybantsa is as unique a player as he’s ever coached. And he’s coached some of the best to have played the game.

"You're looking at a guy who has billboard marquee success..."

ESPN's @SeanFarnham on what makes AJ so great 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Uu1vVRKLjy

— BYUtv Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) December 10, 2025

ESPN researchers spit out a unique stat from that Clemson game. Dybantsa had more points and more assists than the entire Clemson team in the second half. He outscored Clemson 22 to 21, had five assists to Clemson’s three and shot 7 of 11 from the field compared to Clemson’s 7 of 27.

In his last two games (Clemson, Cal-Riverside), Dybantsa has outscored opponents 34-28 in the second half by himself.

Angry Dybantsa. Second gear.

Beware.

ESPN college basketball and NBA draft analyst Paul Biancardi immediately went to his social accounts after Dybantsa’s performance in New York. He posted on X: “AJ Dybantsa’s game is centered on scoring. Best mid-range game in the country. He is a willing and accurate passer. When he makes assists, his game reaches a different level through his passing.”

Biancardi then compared references from 2024 on Dybantsa: “AJ exhibits the athletic ability of LeBron James and Tracey McGrady coming out of high school. If eligible, he would be the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in this upcoming draft.”

AJ Dybantsa’s game is centered on scoring. Best mid-range game in the country. He is a willing and accurate passer. When he makes assists, his game reaches a different level through his passing. Player comp back in December of 2024. @SCNextpic.twitter.com/ZIboL6Z2gI

— Paul Biancardi (@PaulBiancardi) December 10, 2025

Jeff Goodman, co-founder of Field of 68, revisited preconference chatter around the country of the loaded freshman class. Quoting Goodman’s own Rob Dauster of Field of 68: “There’s been a lot of Darryn Peterson chatter, and Cam Boozer had been dominant this season. But we seem to have forgotten about Dybantsa as the potential No. 1 pick.”

Writing for Forbes on the NBA, Evan Sidery noted: “AJ Dybantsa is picking up serious steam in the 2026 No. 1 overall pick debate among scouts and executives. Not many prospects at 6’9” can move the way Dybantsa does, and the all-around scoring upside is immense within NBA spacing.”

AJ Dybantsa is picking up serious steam in the 2026 No. 1 overall pick debate among scouts and executives.

Not many prospects at 6’9” can move the way Dybantsa does, and the all-around scoring upside is immense within NBA spacing.pic.twitter.com/wBVA8vjwhY

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) December 10, 2025

Dybantsa is averaging 20.3 points a game, third in the nation among freshmen. Duke’s Cameron Boozer is averaging 23.0 and Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie averages 21.0 as of last Saturday.

So, why don’t folks see the angry Dybantsa all the time?

Well, he remains a very young freshman player.

And during games, dealing with pressure, expectations, stacked defenses singling him out, battling his own searching-out defenders and then reacting to advice given to him by Young, Dybantsa seems to be able to find a switch to flip.

Also, for a player of his status and caliber, he’s rarely getting the calls he deserves. In games, there’s a time, in the heat of competition, when things just tick him off and he plays mad.

Against UConn and others, it appeared Dybantsa was hacked, grabbed, knocked off his line during his drives and shots, and rarely got calls. It was like, “Play on, be tough.”

But there will come a time, there will be some games, where he does get some of those calls. The Clemson game was one of those.

This is when Clemson’s staff told players not to foul him because he was going to feed at the line.

The Big 12 schedule looms on the horizon after the holidays. Generally, the Big 12 officiating is going to let teams get physical with each other. That’s all fine, if it’s consistent. But basketball officiating isn’t always consistent, especially against visiting teams on road games.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out as Dybantsa continues to build chemistry with his teammates, particularly with point guard Rob Wright, Richie Saunders and center Keba Keita.

On Saturday against Cal-Riverside, Dybantsa scored 26 points with eight boards, seven assists and five steals in 30 minutes. He has 54 points and 17 rebounds and 11 assists the past two games heading into Tuesday’s home game with Pacific.

This group is still learning how to play with each other.

That’s an interesting footing for this 9-1 team.