Some people thought AJ Dybantsa might have taken his foot off the gas after locking in his BYU commitment. After watching him for 40 minutes, however, Villanova coach Kevin Willard has an entirely different take on that theory. Dybantsa’s performance didn’t just win a game; it sent a clear message to the doubters and the dozens of NBA scouts in attendance.
What Did Kevin Willard Say About Dybantsa After Losing to BYU?
Following BYU’s 71-66 victory at the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas, Robbie Lastella captured Willard’s postgame comments on X. The Villanova coach was direct and clearly impressed.
“I had one of those last year, they’re fun. When you got a talented freshman like that, that’s, the first or second pick in the draft, which I know, he is. He’s one of the best high school players I’ve seen come out a long time.”
Kevin Willard on Aj Dybantsa after the game:
“I had one of those last year, they’re fun. When you got a talented freshman like that, that’s, the first or second pick in the draft, which I know, he is. He’s one of the best high school players I’ve seen come out a long time.” pic.twitter.com/ydZWm04o3n
— Robbie Lastella (@RLastellaReport) November 4, 2025
That’s high praise from a coach who just suffered a tough loss. Willard called Dybantsa “the real deal” while discussing his size, length, and toughness. The 6-foot-9 freshman backed that up by posting 21 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 9-for-18 shooting. More importantly, Dybantsa committed zero turnovers and scored 13 of his points after halftime when BYU needed buckets the most.
This performance was significant because doubts had recently arisen in the conversation surrounding Dybantsa. For instance, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. threatened his No. 1 draft projection after outplaying him at the FIBA U19 World Cup. Additionally, other analysts wondered if his competitive fire and offensive ceiling matched rivals like Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer. Those players seemed to continue developing, while Dybantsa appeared content to get through his senior season at Utah Prep simply.
On this night, Dybantsa put those concerns to rest. Villanova briefly grabbed a lead after opening the second half on an 18-9 run fueled by Bryce Lindsay’s hot shooting. In response, Dybantsa keyed a crucial 10-0 burst that turned a deficit into an eight-point cushion for the Cougars inside the final two minutes.
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His decisive drives to the rim and composure under pressure helped No. 8 BYU close out the win in front of more than 60 credentialed NBA scouts. This kind of display shows exactly why BYU coach Kevin Young has compared Dybantsa’s game to Paul George, citing his frame and two-way potential. The Massachusetts native arrived in Provo as one of the top players in the 2025 class, having won MVP at the U19 World Cup, where he averaged 14.3 points and 4.1 rebounds while leading Team USA to a gold medal.
Willard’s assessment carries extra weight because he had no reason to exaggerate an opponent’s strengths after a loss. His coaching experience gives him a sharp perspective on what distinguishes lottery picks from mere role players. He saw enough in one game to declare Dybantsa among the best prep prospects in years.
As BYU prepares to host Holy Cross before Big 12 play begins, Dybantsa has already shown everyone who questioned his effort exactly what they were missing.
