Latest news with #Dybantsa
Fox Sports
10-07-2025
- Business
- Fox Sports
BYU Freshman AJ Dybantsa Partners With Fanatics for Reported 8-Figure NIL Deal
What is life like being a multimillionaire college athlete before ever stepping foot on the gridiron or basketball court? Just ask AJ Dybantsa, the top-ranked prospect in the nation who is set to suit up for the BYU Cougars this upcoming college basketball season. The 6-foot-9, 200-pound forward out of Brocktown, Massachusetts, has burst onto the scene as one of the most heralded prospects in recent memory. Multiple recruiting outlets rank him as the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, and he is widely projected to be the top overall pick in next year's NBA Draft. But before he suits up for the Cougars this year, Dybantsa has been busy in the always-evolving NIL space, agreeing to multiple brand partnerships and carrying an NIL valuation of more than $4 million, per On3. Dybantsa made another big splash this past week, signing a multi-year deal with Fanatics Collectibles, one of the company's most significant NIL partnership deals to date. Fanatics has exclusive collectible partnerships with multiple athletes and welcomed Dybantsa as its newest ambassador in a video clip released on Wednesday. The agreement with Fanatics' memorabilia arm is worth eight figures, according to a source familiar with the deal. The exclusive partnership will be centered around trading cards and memorabilia, including autographs, game-used jerseys, inscriptions and Dybantsa's inclusion in Fanatics brand marketing campaigns. According to Fanatics collectibles, Dybantsa will be featured in a number of upcoming products, among them Bowman U NOW – a program that celebrates moments in collegiate sports – and other Bowman offerings. Dybantsa was already part of Fanatics Collectibles' McDonald's All-American Game deal and has reported NIL partnerships with the likes of Red Bull and Nike. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily . FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Basketball recommended Item 1 of 1 Get more from the College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AJ Dybantsa Makes Surprise Nike Appearance in Jamaica
AJ Dybantsa Makes Surprise Nike Appearance in Jamaica originally appeared on Athlon Sports. AJ Dybantsa has been traveling the globe lately. BYU's top basketball recruit made a trip to the Monaco Grand Prix last week and got the opportunity to be in the pits with Max Verstappen's Red Bull Racing team. But he also made a surprise trip to Kingston, Jamaica to learn about his roots and giveback on behalf of Nike. Advertisement Dybantsa documented his journey in a recent YouTube video. He handed out shoes and basketballs, along with playing a few pickup games. This was all set up by the Bob Marley and Rita Marley Foundations. What made the meet and greet special for Dybantsa was his ties to the Caribbean island. His mom, Chelsea, is from Jamaica and created the no-nonsense structure for her son. For BYU, Dybantsa being able to represent brands on a global scale is an invaluable recruiting tool. One of the first things people noticed was his team gear, which might be foreign to some but will start to become more recognizable and part of his brand. This comes at the right time with the Cougars building up hype toward next season. "Dybantsa has been a celebrated prospect since before he entered high school, and has avoided many of the pitfalls of early stardom by consistently improving his game at each step in the process," 247Sports' Adam Finkelstein said. Advertisement "Still though, he's become accustomed to playing to the camera and can go through spurts when it becomes more of a show than a game. The time is soon coming when the level of competition won't again allow that. He won't be able to worry about cameras, officiating, or other distractions, and will have to make his singular emphasis." Related: AJ Dybantsa admits BYU wasn't top school, blown away by NBA ready program BYU Basketball's upcoming non-conference schedule is nearing completion after this week. They added UConn, Wisconsin, Villanova, along with a multi-team event at Disney World in Orlando. One of the best ways for Dybantsa to introduce himself to the world of college basketball. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Boston Globe
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
AJ Dybantsa and BYU to face UConn at TD Garden this fall
It'll be a matchup between teams projected to be among the preseason top 10, as well as between two of the top New England players in college basketball. Advertisement Dybantsa will face a UConn team led by Southborough native Alex Karaban, a two-time national champion who averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game last season. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'The game against UConn in Boston is going to be a great test for our team and allow Cougar fans all over the East Coast to see us play in one of the premier venues in the NBA,' BYU coach Kevin Young said in a statement. The game will be the Huskies' first in Boston since the 2024 East Regional, when UConn blew past San Diego State in the Sweet 16 and Illinois in the Elite Eight en route to becoming repeat national champion. It will be UConn's second appearance in the Hall of Fame Series after the Huskies beat Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden in December. Advertisement 'The Hall of Fame Series has been great to us in the past, so it was a no-brainer to jump at an opportunity to play an elite opponent in 'Storrs North,' ' UConn coach Dan Hurley said in a statement. 'We know it will be a quality event with a great crowd and a stiff test to see where we are as a team.' One week after the game at TD Garden, the Naismith Hall of Fame also will put on a showcase featuring Boston University, Harvard, Providence, and Penn State at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Additionally, UConn men's and women's basketball teams will take part in an exhibition doubleheader against Boston College at Mohegan Sun Arena on Oct. 13. It'll be the teams' first meeting on the women's side since 2005, and first on the men's side since 2013. Emma Healy can be reached at
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
AJ Dybantsa take his talents to international stage
Long before AJ Dybantsa electrified the recruiting world as the nation's top-ranked basketball prospect and a future BYU Cougar, his story started with something deeper—his roots. This past weekend, the 6-foot-8 freshman traveled to Jamaica not to showcase his game, but to give back to the island his mother calls home. In a two-day visit blending philanthropy, mentorship, and cultural pride, Dybantsa partnered with the Bob Marley Foundation and the Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA) to uplift underserved communities. What followed was more than charity—it was a full-circle moment. 'This isn't my first time here,' Dybantsa told a crowd in Kingston. 'I love coming back. I'll always be back.' Advertisement On Friday, May 9, he visited Dupont and Whitfield Primary Schools, distributing basketball shoes and gear to eager young athletes. But it wasn't just about the equipment—it was about presence. Dybantsa and his father, Ace, hoisted kids toward the rim so they could dunk for the first time, triggering cheers that echoed far beyond the court. 'Just seeing those smiles—that's something I'll never forget,' AJ said. Saturday saw a deeper dive into development. At Jamaica College, he spoke with the Under-17 national team and handed out gear to players from across the island, including St. Catherine High School. From there, he explored Jamaica's musical heart at Tuff Gong Studios before finishing the day at Trench Town Community Court. Though only 18, Dybantsa understands the weight of his platform. The visit wasn't about headlines; it was about planting seeds. Advertisement 'Today was more about giving them what they need to play,' he said. 'Next time, it's about skill development.' Already a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, AJ's impact is being felt long before he suits up for BYU. For Cougar fans, this trip wasn't just a sign of his talent—it was a statement of character. And as Dybantsa continues his rise, one thing is clear: his game may take him to the top, but his heart keeps him grounded. Related: BYU player catches attention by taking major leap toward Olympic dream Related: BYU WR locked in for 2025 comeback
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BYU five-star transfer wasn't chasing NIL, wanted NBA enviroment under Kevin Young
Robert Wright III was sold on BYU even before he got to Provo. While many following the program were shocked he took a spot with the Cougars, it wasn't driven by NIL. Deseret News reporter Jay Drew recently explained Wright's thoughts behind transferring to BYU "I kinda just thought that coming to BYU and being around guys who have seen the NBA at the highest level and just what they are building and everything, it is just, I didn't want to pass that up," Wright said. "It didn't really have too much to do with NIL.' Advertisement The former All-Big 12 honorable guard is coming off his freshman season at Baylor. He averaged 11.5 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 41.4% from the field and 34.2% from beyond the arc in 35 games for the Bears. NIL money wasn't the driving force, but it didn't hurt either. Wright reportedly pulled in $3.5 million to join Dybantsa and the Cougars. He'll play with the top recruit in the nation with a bright NBA future in 2026, along with Tater Tot King Richie Saunders and Keba Keita. Two key pieces from BYU's Sweet 16 run with Egor Demin testing the NBA waters. 'There were a lot of ups and downs, just on the basketball side," Wright told Drew. "I had a lot of fun at Baylor. I appreciate their fanbase and everything like that. But I just felt like I was ready for something different ... It wasn't personal." Wright and Dybantsa have history together in a few circles. They're both top recruits separated by a year and will now make BYU a force in the new era of college basketball. Add in Kevin Young and his NBA-style coach staff and the sky is the limit in the Big 12 and beyond.
