AJ Dybantsa’s NCAA Tournament run lasted just one game, but that was enough to reshape the 2026 NBA draft conversation. The BYU freshman dropped 35 points in a first-round loss to Texas on Thursday, becoming the first freshman since Stephen Curry in 2007 to score 30 or more in a tournament debut. The performance immediately sparked strong reactions across the basketball world, with analysts debating whether the No. 1 pick race is already over.
NBA World Agrees AJ Dybantsa Is the No. 1 Pick After Stellar NCAA Outing
Dybantsa did everything he could to keep BYU alive in a 79-71 loss to Texas in the West Region. He finished with 35 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 11-of-25 from the field and a perfect 12-of-12 from the free-throw line while playing heavy minutes. The showing quickly lit up social media, with several prominent voices weighing in.
Former NFL player Breiden Fehoko did not hold back, adding fuel to an already heated debate between two of the top prospects in the class: “AJ Dybantsa is what they think Darryn Peterson is.”
The @MGRADS X handle took it a step further, writing, “AJ Dybantsa is the #1 pick. Let’s end that discussion. Let’s talk about who’s going 2-60. No way you’re watching him do this and think I’m gonna go with someone else.”
Hoop Central highlighted the stat line that drove the conversation, posting, “AJ DYBANTSA TONIGHT:
35 POINTS
10 REBOUNDS
11/25 FGM
12/12 FTM
39 MINUTES
Playing like the No. 1 Overall Pick. 🔥”
The numbers backed up the eye test, especially considering how much of BYU’s offense ran through Dybantsa.
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Former BYU guard Kyle Collinsworth also joined the discussion, questioning any remaining doubt over Dybantsa’s status as the No. 1 pick in the coming NBA draft. “Anybody still questioning if AJ Dybantsa is the #1 pick in this draft!?” he wrote.
Sports anchor Ari Alexander kept it simple, calling the performance incredible and adding, “AJ Dybantsa was incredible in his tourney experience. #1 pick him.”
Even in a loss, Dybantsa controlled the game offensively, accounting for nearly half of BYU’s points. With limited support around him, every possession seemed to highlight both his scoring ability and his overall skill set.
That said, Dybantsa’s outstanding March Madness outing did not come out of nowhere. He has been one of the most productive players in college basketball all season.
He averaged 25.3 points per game, the highest mark in the country, along with 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists across 34 games. His consistency and scoring ability earned him Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and a place on the All-Big 12 Team.
He was also named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team and received AP All-American recognition, further solidifying his status as one of the top players in the nation. Still, BYU’s season as a whole fell short of expectations.
The Cougars finished 10th in the Big 12 and struggled to find momentum late in the year. That lack of depth showed again in the NCAA Tournament, where they exited in the first round as a No. 6 seed.
Fox Sports Radio host Aaron Torres reflected on that ending, writing, “Brutal to see AJ Dybantsa’s college career end in Round 1… Dude was everything right about college hoops… All-American. No. 1 pick. Exceeded expectations. Sad to see it end this way.”
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NBA draft analyst for Bleacher Report Jonathan Wasserman focused on the bigger picture, noting that Dybantsa’s appeal goes beyond raw talent. “Thought AJ exceeded expectations this year. At this stage I’d bet he’s the #1 pick favorite, under the assumption the lottery GM values the perception that AJ offers most favorable mix of star-outcome likelihood and minimal risk (no worrisome obstacles on path to upside),” he wrote, pointing to his mix of upside and low risk.
Dybantsa committed to BYU in December 2024 and quickly lived up to the hype. While his team fell short, his individual performance, especially on the biggest stage, may have settled the most important debate heading into the 2026 draft.
At this point, the question is no longer whether Dybantsa belongs in the No. 1 conversation, but whether anyone has done enough to take that spot away from him.
