AJ Dybantsa talks BYU national championship hopes, Kevin Durant comparisons at NBA Summer League

In Year 1 under Kevin Young, BYU put together quite a run on the court, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament. Off the court, the Cougars also landed the top player from the 2025 recruiting cycle in Utah Prep star AJ Dybantsa.

As Dybantsa gets ready for his freshman year, he saw what BYU did so early in Young’s tenure. But he has higher hopes for the 2025-26 season.

During a conversation with ESPN’s Jorge Sedano – which also include comparisons to Kevin Durant – Dybantsa said the Cougars’ top goal is a national championship. Because BYU got to the second weekend with a first-year coach, he thinks the arrow is only pointing up.

“I think the only goal we’ve got in mind is winning a national championship,” Dybantsa said during the NBA Summer League. We got to a Sweet Sixteen last year [with] a first-year coach. I think we’re only going to go farther.”

Dybantsa also said Durant is his favorite player, which is appropriate considering Young was an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns before arriving at BYU. That means he coached Durant – widely considered one of the best players in the NBA.

As Dybantsa became the nation’s top recruit, there were some comparisons to Durant despite their size difference. Durant is about 7-foot while Dybantsa measured in at 6-foot-9. But the former Five Star Plus+ recruit still learned from watching the two-time champion as he gets ready to began to start his college career.

“I wouldn’t say it’s too similar,” Dybantsa said of the comparisons. “I think he’s really one of one. But I mean, I try to take a lot of things from his game like the simplicity part of it, getting to your spots quicker and stuff like that.”

Dybantsa’s recruitment was high-profile as he eventually committed to BYU during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take. On3’s Pete Nakos also reported details on the lucrative NIL package the school was putting together for him amid the pursuit. Dybantsa also recently signed a high-profile NIL deal with Fanatics.

AJ Dybantsa was also the headliner for a Top-5 recruiting class during the 2025 cycle. That group also includes four-star center Xavion Staton, and those incoming freshmen join a group of transfer portal additions led by former Baylor guard Rob Wright. Wright was the No. 9 overall transfer from this past portal cycle, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings.