AJ Dybantsa Continues to Dominate: BYU Freshman Earns Fourth Big 12 Newcomer of the Week Honor
If you're not already paying attention to AJ Dybantsa, it’s time to start. The BYU freshman has once again been named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week-his fourth time earning the honor this season-and it’s not hard to see why. The 6-foot-9 forward is putting together a season that’s not just impressive for a freshman, but flat-out elite by any standard.
Dybantsa also landed a spot on the Big 12 Starting Five for the eighth time this year, and his numbers this past week were nothing short of staggering: 32.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, while shooting a blistering 64.7% from the field. He was equally deadly from beyond the arc, hitting 66.7% of his threes, and added 63.2% from the free throw line.
Let’s break that down: Dybantsa isn’t just scoring-he’s doing it with ruthless efficiency. He’s not forcing shots or padding stats. He’s picking his spots, making smart decisions, and delivering in big moments.
Take last Wednesday’s road game at Oklahoma State. Dybantsa dropped 36 points, going 13-of-20 from the floor, 5-of-8 from deep, and 5-of-7 at the line.
That performance now stands as one of the top scoring outings by a freshman in BYU history-one of four such games he owns in the program’s top seven. And yes, that includes his record-setting 43-point explosion against Utah back on January 24.
Then came Saturday’s showdown with No. 8 Houston, a marquee Top 25 battle.
Dybantsa didn’t shy away from the spotlight. He poured in 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-4 from three-point range.
He added five boards, four assists, and even chipped in a block for good measure. It marked his 16th 20-point game of the season-second-most ever by a BYU freshman, and tied for 17th most in a single season across all classes.
What makes Dybantsa’s rise so compelling isn’t just the numbers-it’s how he’s getting them. He plays with poise beyond his years, showing the kind of shot selection and court vision you typically see in seasoned upperclassmen. Whether it’s knocking down a cold-blooded three or dishing out a dime off the drive, he’s consistently making the right play.
With each passing week, Dybantsa is not just making his case as the Big 12’s top freshman-he’s putting himself firmly in the conversation as one of the best players in college basketball, period. The numbers back it up.
The eye test backs it up. And if he keeps this up, the accolades are only going to keep coming.