AJ Dybantsa Keeps Making History - And He’s Just Getting Started
IRVING, Texas - AJ Dybantsa is doing things most freshmen only dream about. And he’s making it look routine.
The BYU forward was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week again on Monday - his third time earning the honor this season. And that was just the start of his accolades. Earlier in the day, he was also named the Naismith Player of the Week, a national recognition that puts an exclamation point on what was a record-breaking performance.
Dybantsa dropped a career-high 43 points in BYU’s third straight win - and it wasn’t just any opponent. It came against their in-state rival, a game that always carries extra weight. But the 6-foot-9 freshman didn’t just rise to the occasion - he dominated it.
He became the first freshman in BYU history to score 40 or more points in a single game, and he did it with remarkable efficiency. Dybantsa went 15-of-24 from the field, knocked down 4-of-5 from deep, and was nearly perfect from the line, hitting 9-of-10 free throws.
Those numbers weren’t just impressive - they were historic. He set BYU freshman single-game records for both field goals made and attempted.
And this isn’t just a one-off performance. Dybantsa has now scored in double figures in all 19 of his collegiate games - that’s the fourth-longest streak to start a career in Big 12 history. He’s not just consistent; he’s consistently elite.
With his latest outburst, Dybantsa now holds the program record for the most 30-point games by a freshman - he’s already done it three times. And there’s still plenty of basketball left. With 12 regular season games remaining, he’s already climbed to fourth on BYU’s all-time freshman scoring list.
For a player who arrived with plenty of hype, Dybantsa is not just living up to expectations - he’s redefining them. This isn’t just a hot stretch. This is a freshman making a serious case to be one of the best in the country.
And if he keeps this up, we’re going to be talking about AJ Dybantsa for a long time.