aj dybantsa is publicly leaving the door open to staying in college, even as expectations around him have long centered on a one-season stop at BYU before the NBA draft. The comments surfaced in an exclusive interview this past weekend on the “Deseret Voices” podcast, after months of framing his plan as a quick jump to the pros. The moment adds real uncertainty to a decision that had been described inside his own family as a stated goal when he committed.
Aj Dybantsa: “I might not leave college”
Ever since arriving at BYU, the widespread expectation has been that he would be “one-and-done, ” playing a single season in Provo before declaring for the NBA draft. In November 2024, he and his father, Ace Dybantsa, called it “his goal” when committing to the Cougars live on ’s “First Take. ”
But in his most recent remarks, he presented a less rigid picture. Responding to a question about whether he believed he would be the top pick in this summer’s draft, he said, “Well, I might not leave … like, I might not leave college. ” He did not offer specifics about what would drive that choice, adding only that he has “until the end of the season (to decide). ”
Freshman production and draft position keep pressure on the timeline
The current on-court case for an early jump is strong. He is in the middle of what has been described as an outstanding freshman season, and he currently leads the nation in scoring at 24. 9 points per game. Those numbers have fueled a growing argument that he could be selected No. 1 overall in June’s NBA draft, with the possibility of landing in the top three even if he does not go first.
Financial considerations also tilt heavily toward leaving. Last year’s No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg, signed a four-year, $62. 7 million contract after being selected first overall, including $13. 8 million in his rookie season. The No. 3 selection, VJ Edgecomb, signed for $50. 4 million across four years. Whatever compensation he has earned at BYU, it would not approach an NBA rookie scale contract tied to a top-three selection.
Immediate reactions: family priorities and a familiar BYU precedent
While he did not lay out a detailed roadmap, he did point to a clear family priority: finishing his education. He indicated that education is central in the Dybantsa family, with a long-standing push for him to earn his bachelor’s degree regardless of where his professional career takes him.
“My mom wants me to graduate. So I might not leave, but I might leave, ” he said, laughing.
Within BYU’s recent experience, there is also a precedent for a high-level player weighing a return. BYU’s previous draft export, Egor Dëmin, told reporters last year after the Cougars’ Sweet 16 loss that he was not ruling out a return to college despite being projected as a “one-and-done” talent. Dëmin ultimately declared for the draft and was selected No. 8 overall by the Brooklyn Nets, with the decision going down to the wire.
Quick context and what comes next
The broader backdrop is simple: a player widely expected to leave after one season is now saying the plan is not locked. The decision, in his own telling, will not be made until the end of the season.
For now, all signs still point to a draft declaration at season’s end, but the public wording matters: aj dybantsa has explicitly not closed the door on staying in college. The next clear development to watch is whether he offers any specifics before the season ends—or keeps his timeline intact and makes the call only at the finish.
