AJ Dybantsa shakes up the NBA Draft landscape, revealing a surprising consideration beyond the pros: prioritizing his college degree.
The 2025-26 NBA season has been about developing worthwhile prospects and preparing for a monumental 2026 NBA Draft for the 15-46 Brooklyn Nets.
Brooklyn's NBA record five first-round picks from the 2025 NBA Draft (Egor Dëmin, Nolan Traoré, Danny Wolf, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf) have all shown flashes in their own ways throughout the year, but their next first-rounder could change everything.
Between the University of Kansas' Darryn Peterson, Duke University's Cam Boozer and BYU's AJ Dybantsa, it might be impossible for the Nets' front office to make a wrong choice if their pick lands in the top-3.
However, the latter of the phenomenal trio recently made waves with an unexpected comment on his future that might change everything for the rebuilding franchise.
While sitting across Deseret News' McKay Coppins for an interview on Tuesday, Dybantsa expressed that he's still deciding between leaving to enter the pro ranks or returning to BYU for another collegiate season (or more).
"Well, I might not leave," Dybansta revealed to Coppins.
"I might not leave college... Because my mom wants me to graduate."
"Yeah, so I might not leave, but I might leave," the star forward said with a smile.
This came as a shock to many in the basketball media space, as it was widely assumed that Dybantsa was headed straight for the league come June.
However, Dybantsa's family feels it's worthwhile for the 19-year-old to stick around and earn a degree. To do so, he hinted at remaining with BYU for another three seasons.
"The (BYU) fans might get into my head, talk about one more year, maybe three more years. I don't know. But I'm going to have to talk to my mom."
Leading Division I in scoring with 24.8 points to go along with 6.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.1 steals on a 56.4% effective field goal percentage, the 6-foot-9, 210-pound wing has proven to be a powerhouse on the collegiate stage.
Dybantsa's magnum-opus came on Jan. 24 in a 91-78 home win over the University of Utah, when he poured in a career-high 43 points while shooting 15-for-24 (62.5%) from the field, scoring from all three levels and making his case to go first overall in the coming draft.
Thankfully the Nets will have other options if Dybantsa were to make the unprecedented decision to stay in school, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that his absence from the draft board could change the course of Nets history.
Potentially pairing a talent of Dybantsa's level on the wing with a floor general like Nolan Traoré and floor-spacing shot-makers of Egor Dëmin's caliber would likely result in an effective outcome, but everything could change if he's serious about his education.
There's no question that he's ready for the big leagues from a talent perspective, but his pursuit of security post-basketball might leave the Nets with one less choice to lead the organization into the next generation.
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