America woke up Tuesday to a historic moment: the nation’s top high school basketball recruit, AJ Dybantsa, appeared on ESPN to announce his commitment to play at BYU, choosing the Cougars over powerhouse programs like Kansas, North Carolina, and Alabama.
Former BYU star Travis Hansen believes Dybantsa’s decision reflects the growing confidence in the Cougars' basketball program. “I think it shows the confidence people have in Kevin Young and the staff. It shows BYU’s relevance as a program and an institution. If you can land the No. 1 recruit in the nation, you can recruit anyone,” Hansen said.
Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 forward, didn’t choose BYU because of his ties to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (he isn’t a member) or his father’s non-existent history with the school. It wasn’t even due to the Cougars’ NIL incentives, which weren’t the highest. Instead, Dybantsa’s decision was focused on his professional future.
“He wants to be a one-and-done,” Hansen said on the “Y’s Guys” podcast. “He wants to be here for nine months to prepare for the next step in his career. I’m biased, but I think BYU is the best place to develop players for professional basketball. That’s why Egor Demin is here.”
Demin, a 6-foot-9 freshman from Moscow, Russia, is projected to be a lottery pick in next year’s NBA draft. Dybantsa, also 6-9, is considered a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft.
Hansen also praised the work of Kevin Young, BYU’s head coach, who has already made waves by securing commitments from Demin and 6-foot-9 Kanon Catchings, another player expected to enter the NBA draft. Both players have started every game this season, though they faced struggles during a recent loss to Providence, where they made just 1 of 18 shots combined.
Hansen expressed his surprise at the talent BYU has attracted. “I think it’s pretty shocking how good they are right now,” he said. “If I were a fan, I’d be enjoying it and thinking, ‘I can’t believe we have this kind of talent.’”
While Demin and Catchings are expected to only stay at BYU for one season before moving on to the NBA, Young has already made significant moves to secure the next generation of top-tier talent. Prior to Dybantsa’s announcement, the Cougars also landed Xavion Staton, a 7-foot center from Las Vegas ranked 29th overall in the 2025 class.
“It’s just changing. Everything is changing,” Hansen remarked. “When we were at BYU, we thought too small. Kevin Young is thinking bigger.”
