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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) dunks the ball during an NCAA men’s basketball game against Holy Cross held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
AJ Dybantsa just earned his most prestigious accolade yet.
BYU’s freshman superstar has been named to the Associated Press All-America First Team, the organization announced Tuesday.
Dybantsa is the third Cougars player to ever earn such honors, joining Danny Ainge (1981) and Jimmer Fredette (2011).
Since arriving on campus as the most highly touted recruit in school history, Dybantsa has more than lived up to the hype. He leads the country in scoring at 25.3 points per game as part of one of college basketball’s all-time prolific freshman campaigns.
He’s posted 20+ points in 27 of 32 games this season, crossing the 30-point threshold seven times and dropping 40 points twice. Dybantsa is also averaging 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, shooting 51.3% from the field and leading BYU to a 23-11 record heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Joining Dybantsa on the First Team were two additional freshmen — Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. — along with veteran big men JT Toppin of Texas Tech and Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg.
Three other Big 12 players appeared on the Second and Third teams: Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson, Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson and Kingston Flemings of Houston.
Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley received Honorable Mention recognition.
Dybantsa will make his NCAA Tournament debut Thursday in Portland as 6 seed BYU faces the winner of Tuesday’s First Four matchup between Texas and NC State.
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) celebrates with forward Dominique Diomande (24) after scoring a fast break dunk to take a 50-49 lead into halftime of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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