AJ Dybantsa hasn’t even stepped on the court for BYU yet, but he’s already changing the game. The 18-year-old phenom just wrapped up an MVP performance at the FIBA U19 World Cup, and now he’s landed another massive deal that puts him in the same conversation as some of the biggest names in sports.
What Makes AJ Dybantsa’s New NIL Deal So Significant for College Basketball?
The No. 1 basketball recruit in the 2025 class just took another huge step in his off-court career. BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa signed an exclusive trading card and memorabilia deal with Topps, a sports collectibles company valued at $1.2 billion.
This partnership puts Dybantsa alongside global superstars like Lionel Messi and Shohei Ohtani. Before he’s even played a single college game, the small forward from Brockton, Massachusetts, has secured his place among the elite athletes in Topps’ portfolio.
Topps announced the signing on Instagram, posting, “JUST IN: We’re excited to announce that we’ve signed BYU star AJ Dybantsa to an exclusive trading card & memorabilia deal 🏀🔥 Welcome to the family, AJ!”
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The agreement covers autographed trading cards, game-used memorabilia, inscriptions, and limited-edition collectibles. Dybantsa will appear in Bowman University products and future NBA releases once Topps officially takes over NBA licensing in October 2025.
How Does This Add to Dybantsa’s Already Massive NIL Portfolio?
The Topps deal is just the latest addition to an already loaded NIL portfolio. Dybantsa currently holds a $7 million NIL agreement with BYU, a $4 million endorsement with Nike, and a major partnership with Red Bull.
These deals combined place him among the most marketable athletes in all of college sports. On3’s Pete Nakos tweeted, “Dybantsa’s deal with Fanatics stretches into his NBA career. Rumored to be one of Fanatics’ top NIL deals to date.”
Dybantsa’s deal with Fanatics stretches into his NBA career. Rumored to be one of Fanatics’ top NIL deals to date. https://t.co/TWDp0zDxO5
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) July 9, 2025
The timing of the Topps announcement couldn’t be better. Just days earlier, Dybantsa led Team USA to a gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland. He earned tournament MVP honors after averaging 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
Team USA also set a new scoring record with 114.6 points per game, breaking the mark set by Yugoslavia in 1987. Dybantsa’s performance on the international stage only added to his growing reputation as the clear No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
⭐️ MVP AJ ⭐️@AJ_Dybantsa is the 2025 #FIBAU19 World Cup Most Valuable Player!
🇺🇸 #USABMU19 pic.twitter.com/GnImMYYCAE
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) July 6, 2025
Meanwhile, Topps continues building its roster of future stars. The company has also signed recent NBA Draftees Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper and USC women’s star JuJu Watkins.
RELATED: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Set Lofty 2027 Goal That Could Include Cooper Flagg
With Dybantsa now on board, Topps is clearly betting big on the next generation of basketball icons. For Dybantsa, this represents another step in what’s already shaping up to be a revolutionary college career.
