AJ Dybantsa Delivers a Statement Week for BYU Hoops
AJ Dybantsa’s game isn’t just developing-it’s exploding. The 6-foot-9 freshman forward out of Brockton, Massachusetts, just put together one of the most impressive two-game stretches of the early college basketball season, and the accolades are rolling in.
Dybantsa was named the Lute Olson Award National Player of the Week and earned a spot on the Big 12 Starting Five, and it’s not hard to see why. Over two wins against Clemson and UC Riverside, he averaged 27.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Those are grown-man numbers from a freshman who’s playing like anything but.
Let’s start with the comeback against Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden-a game that showcased Dybantsa’s ability to take over when it matters most. With BYU trailing by 22, Dybantsa went off in the second half, dropping 22 of his career-high 28 points after the break.
He didn’t just help spark the rally-he was the rally. He outscored Clemson himself in the second half, 22-21, on 7-of-11 shooting and a perfect 8-for-8 from the line.
Add in seven boards (four offensive) and five assists in the second half alone, and you’ve got a performance that felt like a coming-out party on one of college basketball’s biggest stages.
Then came the encore.
In BYU’s 100-53 blowout win over UC Riverside, Dybantsa didn’t let up. He poured in 26 points, added eight rebounds, dished out seven assists, and swiped five steals. That stat line put him in rare company-he became the first freshman to post a 25/5/5/5 game since Colorado State’s Isaiah Stevens did it in a triple-overtime thriller back in 2019.
And he’s not just stacking stats-he’s making history. With 209 points through his first 10 games, Dybantsa now sits second all-time among BYU freshmen in scoring to start a season, trailing only Danny Ainge’s 215. That’s elite company for a player who’s just getting started.
BYU is back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 16, hosting Pacific at the Marriott Center. If Dybantsa keeps playing like this, the Cougars may have a star on their hands who’s not just rewriting freshman records-but redefining expectations.
Garrison Grimes Becomes BYU’s First All-American Long Snapper
It’s not often a long snapper makes headlines, but Garrison Grimes just made BYU history.
The redshirt senior was named Second-Team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association, becoming the first long snapper in program history to earn All-American honors. It’s a well-deserved recognition for a player who’s been a model of consistency and precision all season.
Grimes was flawless in 2025, executing 114 perfect snaps-76 on field goals and PATs, and 38 on punts. That kind of reliability is often taken for granted, but it’s foundational to a successful special teams unit. And BYU’s special teams thrived this year.
Senior kicker Will Ferrin, who led the Big 12 in scoring with 113 points, connected on 22-of-29 field goals and was perfect on all 39 extra point attempts. His streak of 118 consecutive PATs is now a BYU record, and Grimes had a hand-literally-in every one of them.
Punter Sam Vander Haar also benefited from Grimes’ steady snapping. The junior averaged 42.5 yards per punt, with 13 pinned inside the 20 and 19 fair caught. Vander Haar earned Ray Guy Award Ray’s 8 honors twice this season, and Grimes’ consistency was a big part of that success.
Grimes was also a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, which goes to the top long snapper in college football. He was the first BYU player ever to be named a semifinalist and the only Big 12 long snapper to make the cut in 2025.
Before transferring to BYU, Grimes played 31 games at Baylor from 2020 to 2022. He’s been a steady presence on special teams throughout his college career, and his journey has now culminated in All-American honors. He also has football in his blood-he’s the son of Jeff Grimes, former BYU offensive coordinator and current OC at Wisconsin.
Olivia Hamlin Named Big 12 Freshman of the Week After Breakout Performances
Olivia Hamlin is quickly proving she’s more than ready for the moment.
The freshman guard out of Santa Clara, Utah, earned Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors after back-to-back 20-point games helped BYU wrap up an 11-1 non-conference slate. She led all Big 12 freshmen in scoring (42 points), field goals made (16), 3-pointers (4), free throws (6), steals (6), and minutes played (65) over the week.
Hamlin’s play was especially crucial in BYU’s win over Idaho State, where the Cougars struggled to find rhythm early. She kept them afloat with 11 points, four steals and two assists in the first half alone, and finished with a game-high 22 points on 47.4% shooting. Add in five steals and three assists, and it was clear she was the engine driving the team.
She followed it up with another strong showing against UTEP, scoring 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including a career-best 4-of-7 from deep. She also chipped in a block, steal, and rebound in the win.
With Delaney Gibb sidelined, Hamlin has stepped into a bigger role and hasn’t looked back. Over the final eight non-conference games, she’s averaging nearly 30 minutes a night and ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.8 points per game. She’s also contributing across the board with 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
Head coach Lee Cummard praised her instincts and aggressiveness on both ends of the floor, and it’s clear her confidence is growing with every game.
Next up for Hamlin and the Cougars: a trip to Orlando to open Big 12 conference play against UCF on Saturday, Dec. 20.
Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
If Hamlin keeps playing like this, BYU may have found a cornerstone to build around for years to come.