210
7 days ago
BYU's AJ Dybantsa has reason to stay in college for another year before NBA Draft
Summary
BYU's AJ Dybantsa has reason to stay in college for another year before NBA Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
AJ Dybantsa doesn't have to go anywhere.
The obvious assumption is that the BYU freshman phenom will leave college after this lone season and enter the NBA Draft -- he'll be a top-three pick, and maybe No. 1 overall.
And based on all the precedents set in the last few decades, that's by far the most likely outcome. Lottery picks pretty much never forego the NBA Draft to stay in school for an extra year or more.
But nothing is stopping Dybantsa from staying at BYU, or even entering the transfer portal and playing college basketball elsewhere.
In fact, he has one reason close to home that he could stay in school.
“Well, I might not leave,” Dybantsa said on a recent podcast appearance. “My mom wants me to graduate. I might not leave. But I might leave.”
Obviously, he hasn't committed to any decision there. He likely won't say what he's really up to until the Cougars' season ends, at whatever point that may be.
It's fascinating to follow, even if Dybantsa is unlikely to make such an unprecedented decision.
Given how much money he's making to play at BYU, it's not as big a financial difference as it used to be. And as long as he could avoid injury, he'd still be a high-ranking pick in a year or more.
Of course, Dybantsa has shown there's not much more for himself to do in college hoops. He's averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
He's not the first superstar freshman to at least consider this out loud. Cooper Flagg spoke a year ago about how much he loved being in the college environment and how fun it would be to run it back. Even a couple decades ago, Carmelo Anthony seriously contemplated a second year at Syracuse.
The incredibly most likely outcome is that Dybantsa goes to the NBA.
But hey, nothing is stopping him from going against the grain here. It's how he got to BYU in the first place.
MORE: Siena's Gerry McNamara takes spotlight on odd day for Syracuse basketball
AJ Dybantsa doesn't have to go anywhere.
The obvious assumption is that the BYU freshman phenom will leave college after this lone season and enter the NBA Draft -- he'll be a top-three pick, and maybe No. 1 overall.
And based on all the precedents set in the last few decades, that's by far the most likely outcome. Lottery picks pretty much never forego the NBA Draft to stay in school for an extra year or more.
But nothing is stopping Dybantsa from staying at BYU, or even entering the transfer portal and playing college basketball elsewhere.
In fact, he has one reason close to home that he could stay in school.
“Well, I might not leave,” Dybantsa said on a recent podcast appearance. “My mom wants me to graduate. I might not leave. But I might leave.”
Obviously, he hasn't committed to any decision there. He likely won't say what he's really up to until the Cougars' season ends, at whatever point that may be.
It's fascinating to follow, even if Dybantsa is unlikely to make such an unprecedented decision.
Given how much money he's making to play at BYU, it's not as big a financial difference as it used to be. And as long as he could avoid injury, he'd still be a high-ranking pick in a year or more.
Of course, Dybantsa has shown there's not much more for himself to do in college hoops. He's averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
He's not the first superstar freshman to at least consider this out loud. Cooper Flagg spoke a year ago about how much he loved being in the college environment and how fun it would be to run it back. Even a couple decades ago, Carmelo Anthony seriously contemplated a second year at Syracuse.
The incredibly most likely outcome is that Dybantsa goes to the NBA.
But hey, nothing is stopping him from going against the grain here. It's how he got to BYU in the first place.
MORE: Siena's Gerry McNamara takes spotlight on odd day for Syracuse basketball
AI Description
The article discusses the potential decision of BYU's AJ Dybantsa to stay in college for another year before entering the NBA Draft. This decision could significantly impact his career trajectory and the landscape of college basketball.