Scouting A.J. Dybantsa: Breaking down the new BYU Cougar's game

Known for his explosive athleticism and polished scoring arsenal, Dybantsa oozes NBA traits. His commitment signals a new era for the Cougars and positions him as a potential college basketball game-changer, even if his stay in Provo will be brief.

Dybantsa is one of the best prospects we've seen in years, and the NBA is in his near future.

Below, we dive into what you can expect out of Dybantsa on the court, including his strengths, weaknesses and fit with BYU. Then NBA scouts and executives evaluate the Massachusetts native and current Utah Prep star.

Scouting report and strengths

Dybantsa is the No. 1 high school prospect in the world regardless of class. The magnitude of his impact and potential on the court has been seen before on only a limited number of occasions.

The rising senior worked out with LeBron James, Paul George, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and other NBA players in the offseason. His skill and IQ have blossomed alongside his NBA athleticism and frame. Dybantsa is the poster child for today's modern big guard/small forward. He combines physical tools, smarts and skills while standing at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot wingspan and an 8-10 standing reach.

Dybantsa plays with intensity and force. His sheer presence is like gravity sucking defenses in. He plays with continuous energy and attacks with domination on his mind. When the ball is in his hands, opposing defenses load up on him, which opens the floor and creates opportunities for his teammates.

He averaged 22.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists through Saturday, according to Synergy Sports. Dybantsa is scoring or assisting on 41% of Utah Prep's points, and he is contributing 31.8 points per game between his points and assists. He has played with outstanding efficiency despite being the main focal point of every opposing team's defensive game plan. Dybantsa is shooting 51% overall, 35% from 3 and 785 from the line. His 62% two-point percentage is extremely high.

Dybantsa's combination of extraordinary versatility, intelligence, scoring prowess and competitiveness sets him apart. It's impressive how he uses his explosiveness, speed and quickness -- all with an NBA frame -- when the ball is in his hands.

In transition, Dybantsa covers so much ground with long strides. When he pushes the ball out front he can quickly go the full length of the court. The strength of his scoring is completing powerful straight-line drives and explosive finishes. Dybantsa understands the value of body control to make his way around defenders.

AJ Dybantsa drops a light 31 PTS in Kentucky 🤧🔥

The top-ranked senior is down to Alabama, BYU, Kansas, and North Carolina 👀🗞️@ADybantsa I @UtahPrepMBB I @thegrindsession pic.twitter.com/uOFAsR9p9j

— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) December 7, 2024

Very few can stop Dybantsa inside the arc: He leads high school basketball in total dunks and one-on-one scoring, according to Synergy. He specializes as a midrange pull-up jump shooter outside the paint. Dybantsa's shot has immensely improved both beyond the arc and at the free throw line. He's shooting 44% on pull-up 3-pointers so far this year in a 12-game sample size.

His high-level motor cannot be overstated. He attacks defenders with a well-thought-out approach. For gifted players, slowing down and reading the game to beat opponents with their mind is the last part of the equation. That's where Dybantsa is different. He processes, reads and performs in a split second. When the ball is in his hands, he feels out his defender, locates the help before he drives and is a smart and willing passer.

Dybantsa is an unselfish star who can take over a game if needed. He's the total package with a teachable spirit.

Weaknesses

Every player has areas to improve when they move up in level, even after they've found success. Dybantsa has no glaring weakness, just areas he could continue to grow.

Already he has sharpened his overall game to try and become less deficient in certain areas. His shooting was there as an undergraduate, but he didn't need his jumper to score and dominate. He could bully his way past defenders and rely on his athleticism to beat his peers even at the highest levels. Now, he understands improving his deep jumper is the next step.

He's a capable, albeit streaky, 3-point shooter. Dybantsa spent a considerable amount of time working on translating his shooting gains to games. Recently, his shot quality and accuracy significantly improved and his 3-point percentage is up to 35% according to Synergy Sports.

As a free throw shooter, Dybantsa had a tendency to rush his shot and come off the line too quickly. Both are common errors with younger players and caused his overall percentage to fluctuate. He's up to 78% after working on taking deep breaths to relax and holding his follow-through longer.

Dybantsa's defensive stance and vision off the ball need attention. He can stand upright and become a ball-watcher, which is common with offensively gifted players. Dybantsa is also prone to committing charges on offense, but he has incorporated a jump stop and slowed down to read the floor, making him even more dangerous.

Dybantsa's fit at BYU

In his first season as BYU's head coach, Kevin Young is establishing a style of play and creating an identity for his program. Adding Dybantsa gives him a No. 1 scoring option and a versatile jumbo wing with elite athletic ability to build around.

Young will implement Dybantsa's versatility to his style. BYU plays an up-tempo and NBA-centric style that leads to mostly layups, 3-pointers and free throws. But remember that Young once coached Devin Booker and Durant, who are two of the best midrange pull-up shooters in the game. Dybantsa lives in the midrange and will be utilized there. Expect Young to put Dybantsa and returning center Keba Keita in two-man games, especially in the middle third of the floor.

BYU plays a five-out offense, meaning all five players start from outside the arc. They have quick-hitters as well -- they go into actions where they read each other. Dybantsa will be like a queen on a chess board, moving in different directions from various spots on the floor. Expect him to rebound and lead the break, start the offense, play second-side ball screens and cut off screens to create iso situations and shots. Defensively, he can guard the ball at the point of attack and switch effectively. His energy and vertical bounce will lead to some highlight blocks.

BYU is currently averaging 84 points and a shade under 10 fast-break points. Expect both those numbers to rise with Dybantsa. He'll join fellow ESPN 100 recruit Xavion Staton, who is one of the best shot blockers in the country, and four-star prospect Chamberlin Burgess. Both are already committed for 2025.

"It's systematic scheme with freedom, where I will be playing both as a playmaker and a scorer, and I am looking forward to it," Dybantsa said.

Future upside and what NBA scouts are saying

Dybantsa has been on the recruiting radar since his freshman year, when he won the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year award. He hit NBA draft boards as a rising junior. He has ranked No. 1 in his class throughout his entire career. In October 2023, Dybantsa reclassified up to join the class of 2025, joining Cooper Flagg (who reclassified to 2024) as the second elite high school prospect to move up in as many years.

For now, Dybantsa is the consensus No. 1 NBA draft prospect.

"He is going to keep coming at you all game long and try to get 50 points on you. He has an Anthony Edwards mentality," an NBA scout said.