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The Tuscaloosa News
Why nation's No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa chose BYU over Nate Oats and Alabama basketball
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Why nation's No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa chose BYU over Nate Oats and Alabama basketball
Now that AJ Dybantsa has sealed his commitment to Brigham Young University , the nation's No. 1 recruit is off the board for Alabama basketball.
Alongside ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, the five-star shared why he picked unranked BYU over committing to Alabama coach Nate Oats and the No. 8 Crimson Tide (7-2) during the live show announcing his college decision.
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"I mean, a lot stood out on my visit. Obviously, coach Kevin Young there. My ultimate goal is to get to the NBA and you know, he coached one of my favorite players of all-time, Kevin Durant," Dybantsa said, liking that BYU brought an "all-NBA" staff.
AJ Dybantsa, #7 of the United States of America (USA) in action during the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup - Turkiye 2024 Final match between Italy and the United States of America (USA) at Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, Turkey on July 7, 2024. (Photo by Altan Gocher / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP) (Photo by ALTAN GOCHER/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)
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"I'm shocked. I ain't gone lie," Smith said, anticipating that Dybantsa was going to choose UNC, who fell to Alabama in the SEC/ACC Challenge last Wednesday.
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New York Times basketball insider Adam Zagoria posted to X after the announcement that he was "told AJ Dybantsa's NIL number was close to $7 million."
Nation's No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa shares why he picked BYU over Alabama basketball
The 6-foot-9, 210 pound Dybantsa would've swiped Collin Sexton's status as Alabama's highest-ranked all-time recruit had he chosen UA on Tuesday.
Dybantsa visited UA in September, seen alongside fellow five-stars Brayden Burries (uncommitted) and Meleek Thomas (Arkansas) at the Alabama-Georgia football game .
Prior to his senior season, Dybantsa played at Prolific Prep in Napa, California, which produced Crimson Tide freshmen Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherrell and helped forge the No. 2 2024 recruiting class in the country at UA. With Reid and Sherrell, Dybantsa's game averages included 20.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks.
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Dybantsa is wrapping his varsity career at Utah Prep in Hurricane, Utah.
"If it's all NBA − I'm trying to get to the NBA − I think it's going to be the best development for my recruitment," Dybantsa said.
(This article was updated to add new information.)
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why nation's No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa chose BYU over Alabama basketball
