BYU's AJ Dybantsa Shines as Naismith Trophy Semifinalist
In a season where AJ Dybantsa has dazzled fans and analysts alike, the BYU freshman forward has been named one of the 10 semifinalists for the 2026 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year. This recognition by the Atlanta Tipoff Club is a testament to Dybantsa's remarkable impact on the court.
2026 Naismith Trophy Semifinalists:
- **Darius Acuff Jr. ** (Arkansas, Freshman, Guard)
- Cameron Boozer (Duke, Freshman, Forward)
- Jaden Bradley (Arizona, Senior, Guard)
- AJ Dybantsa (BYU, Freshman, Forward)
- Zuby Ejiofor (St.
John's, Senior, Forward)
- Kingston Flemings (Houston, Freshman, Guard)
- Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State, Senior, Forward)
- Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan, Graduate, Forward)
- Braden Smith (Purdue, Senior, Guard)
- Keaton Wagler (Illinois, Freshman, Guard)
Standing tall at 6-foot-9, Dybantsa has been a scoring machine, leading the nation with an impressive 25.5 points per game. His consistency is unmatched, having scored in double figures in all 35 games this season. With 28 games over 20 points and eight surpassing 30, Dybantsa's 894 points rank as the third-most by a freshman in NCAA Division I history.
He joins an elite group, being one of only four freshmen ever to average at least 25.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while maintaining a shooting percentage of 50.0 or better. His record-breaking season includes shattering 12 BYU freshman records, notably eclipsing Danny Ainge's long-standing scoring record from 1977-78. Among his standout performances was a 43-point game against rival Utah, setting a new single-game freshman record at BYU.
Dybantsa's prowess was on full display in the NCAA Tournament, despite BYU's recent loss to Texas. He posted a remarkable 35 points and 10 rebounds, becoming just the second player this century to achieve such a feat in a tournament game. His scoring accounted for nearly half of BYU's points, tying for the second-highest percentage by a Big 12 player in tournament history.
AJ Dybantsa's season has been nothing short of extraordinary, and as the Naismith Trophy race heats up, his performances continue to captivate the college basketball world.