Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
PROVO — Sitting at a table on the set of "First Take" on ESPN, the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2025 sat across a table from Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe as he made a life-altering and program-changing commitment to Brigham Young University.
Led by first-year head coach Kevin Young, the Cougars beat out a top-four of Alabama, Kansas and North Carolina — as well as the rest of the country — in securing the consensus top recruit for the first time in program history.
Smith was confused, but did his job like the veteran reporter he was before signing a multimillion-dollar contract with the Worldwide Leader in Sports.
He asked Dybantsa why he picked BYU, what stood out about Young and his staff, and about his NBA goals. Then he asked why BYU when he had the chance to play at a historic blue blood like North Carolina, the home of Michael Jordan, where he can play arch rival Duke every year in one of the sport's biggest showcases.
"Who said I can't play Duke at BYU?" Dybantsa deadpanned at the thought.
It's true. Times are changing in college basketball, and with BYU signing the 6-foot-9 jumbo wing from Brockton, Massachusetts, by way of Utah Prep in Hurricane, the Cougars signaled they are changing with them.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of Tuesday's reveal that Dybantsa was committing to BYU wasn't the commitment itself; it was that the Cougars had already inked the highest-rated recruit in program history during the NCAA's early signing period a month prior — and then kept it quiet.
Dybantsa, whose parents met with Young in April when the first-year collegiate head coach was still pulling double-duty with BYU and his former employer's run in the NBA playoffs, is a generational prospect for most programs capable of transforming any school's fortunates with his mix of size, skill and passing that was on display when Utah Prep upset top-rated Link Academy at the 5 for the Fight National Hoopfest in Pleasant Grove.
But at BYU, his legend could be even greater. He's immediately the biggest prospect to sign with the Cougars since 7-foot-6 big Shawn Bradley, and in an age of social media, brand-building and name, image and likeness, even that comparison may not be as apt.
But in signing Dybantsa, BYU sent a message: the Cougars are ready to be a contender in men's basketball, and they are ready right now.
Social media has run wild with estimates of Dybantsa's NIL package with BYU, with estimates ranging from $4 million to $7 million. One source with knowledge of the landscape cautioned KSL.com that those estimates range high, adding that total NIL compensation isn't the same as school-based compensation.
Whatever the number is, Dybantsa could be worth it. In an informal poll run by CBS Sports of about two dozen NBA coaches and scouts rating Dybantsa, Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, and Tyran Stokes — the 2026 top recruit who is already being considered as the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA draft — the Utah Prep senior received more votes than both Flagg and Stokes combined.
Specific numbers aren't important in the case of Dybantsa, who already has a reported $4 million deal with Nike and recently signed on with Red Bull, a company valued at over $20 billion. Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that BYU put itself in the same neighborhood for NIL and recruitment as the Tar Heels, Jayhawks and Tide, among others.
"The only thing I can really say on the NIL is they made it pretty clear that all the finalists were operating within the same structure and same scenarios," said Young, adding he wasn't aware of the numbers being reported. "That was pretty obvious as we got serious about things in that space."
What's also clear is that BYU is operating differently than ever before within the halls of the Marriott Center Annex. Young brought in a varied staff that included college basketball veterans Chris Burgess and Brandon Dunson, G League and overseas savants in Will Voigt and Tim Fanning, and a former Big East legend in John Linehan. But that's only part of the picture.
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— Sean Walker (@ActuallyDSW) December 10, 2024
He also added Justin Young, his older brother and founder of national basketball recruiting service Hoop Seen, as the Cougars' director of recruiting.
Young retained strength and conditioning coach Michael Davie, who was on staff with the Milwaukee Bucks for eight seasons, and added licensed nutritionist Danielle Lafata, who worked with the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Coyotes and Arizona Cardinals after being part of the San Francisco Giants organization for six years that included World Series wins in 2012 and 2014.
Dybantsa himself even pointed out the entire staff — from head coach to assistants to strength coach and beyond — in his commitment, as well as four-star recruits Xavion Staton and Chamberlain Burgess who also make up the Cougars' 2025 signing class.
"People get around our staff and see they are just good guys; no agenda, with everyone rowing in the same direction," Young said. "Everybody brings something unique to the table, from experience, from expertise and it's not just the coaching staff, either.
"I think that people that are really serious about wanting to get better are recognizing that and want to take advantage of that."
It may only be the beginning.
"There are guys that are uncommitted that still got BYU in their top," Dybantsa told ESPN. "If they come, I'm not selfish; I can play with anybody in the country. I think my game meshes with anybody.
"If they come, we'll win a natty together. But if I'm on my solo route, I'm on my solo route."
