BYU star AJ Dybantsa led the No. 13 Cougars to a dominant 91-78 win over the Utah Utes on Saturday to improve to 17-2 for the season. Dybantsa exploded for 43.0 points, six rebounds and three assists to set a BYU freshman scoring record.
The 2026 NBA Draft class has been hailed as special and on Saturday, three different freshmen, including Dybantsa, scored 40+ points.
AJ Dybantsa Reacts to Historic Night for Freshmen
Alongside Dybantsa’s eruption, Houston’s Kingston Flemings also dropped 42 points in the No. 6 Cougars’ 90-86 loss to the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders. Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler dropped 46 points in the No. 11 Fighting Illini’s 88-82 win against the No. 4 Purdue Boilermakers.
All freshmen set scoring records for their respective programs.
During his postgame news conference, Dybantsa reacted to the news of three freshmen scoring 40+ points on the same night.
“We were actually watching Tech (Texas) versus Houston, so I seen Kingston live when he hit that 42 mark,” Dybantsa said. “I was like, ‘These freshmen going crazy.’ I feel like we have a crazy class. I think we have one of the best classes in recent years.”
MORE: BYU’s Star Freshman Just Announced His Candidacy for Best Player in America
“It feels good. I’ve been playing against these guys since I was 15, starting at EYBL and different camps, Nike academies, Curry camps, and stuff like that. So, I’ve seen these guys grow, and it’s just amazing to be a part of it,” Dybantsa continued.
Apart from the 40 club, Duke forward Cameron Boozer also dropped 32 points in the Blue Devils’ 90-69 win over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, while Arkansas’s Darius Acuff managed 31 points in the Razorbacks’ win against 85-81 win over the LSU Tigers.
Dybantsa Declared Class of 2026 No. 1 Pick
Dybantsa is averaging 23.6 points on 55.4% shooting from the field and 34.5% shooting from beyond the arc, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the national championship-contending Cougars this season.
After his stellar performance against Utah, BYU coach Kevin Young lavished praise on Dybantsa’s standing in the class of 2026 during his postgame news conference.
“This is a special, special player, I’ve said it a lot, he’s the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft,” Young said. “It was on full display tonight; he was doing it in every which way. I don’t mean go have 43 every night … there’s this humble arrogance.
“He needs to understand that every time [he] steps on the floor, [he’s] an elite basketball player, he plays the game the right way.”
Dybantsa has been pitted against Kansas Jayhawks star Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer as the top contenders for the No. 1 pick on draft night later this year.
