AJ Dybantsa is currently seven months into his college basketball career at BYU. He only started taking class at the start of the fall semester and they truly could not be easier.
In the words of the late Cardale Jones, the five-star recruit is very clearly not in Provo to “play SCHOOL.”
Dybantsa sent shockwaves across college basketball when he committed to the Cougars. They set him up with an academic course load that allows him to focus primarily on his sport.
Who is AJ Dybantsa?
BYU is a legitimate national title contender this season, in large part because of Dybantsa. At 6-foot-9, 210 pounds, he was the No. 1 overall prospect in the recruiting Class of 2024. Alabama, North Carolina and Kansas were his primary suitors beyond Brigham Young University.
Money might not be the only reason Dybantsa landed in Provo but it was perhaps the biggest reason. Members of the Utah Jazz brass stepped up financially to help secure the commitment, which cost anywhere between $4-7 million. He denied the $7 million price tag so the deal likely hovers closer to $4.5 or $5 million for one single season. (Maybe two. Maybe.)
Although the season is still young, AJ Dybantsa has lived up to the hype thus far. The small forward is averaging 19.8 points on 54.8% shooting, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 per game through his first five games— including a dominant win over No. 23 Wisconsin and a two-point loss to No. 3 Uconn.
The five-star freshman is legit. The Cougars are a legitimate national title contender.
What class is he taking at BYU?
According to a report from Tad Walch, Dybantsa — who is not of Mormon faith and does not plan to join the Mormon Church as a full-time member — is enrolled in only three in-person, on-campus classes this semester. (I don’t know if he is also taking classes online but that is neither here nor there.)
The three classes are: Religion 101, University 101 and an unnamed music course.
University 101 is also known as ‘BYU Foundations for Student Success.’ It is designed to help students grow intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually. Students gain an understanding of “the unique mission and purpose of BYU, connect with other students and faculty in meaningful and lasting ways, and make the most of your BYU experience.” Every new student is required to take University 101.
Religion 101 is unique to BYU. The course is also known as ‘Missionary Preparation.’ It focuses on the “purpose, skills, and doctrines of missionary work and prepares prospective missionaries for a more meaningful mission experience.”
Although the class is not required, it is highly recommended for all prospective missionaries. There are four key learning outcomes.
- Spiritual Learning: You will understand and seek to develop the attributes of Christ as found in Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel. You will enhance your knowledge of the doctrine through focused study of God’s revealed word to both modern and ancient prophets, with a special emphasis on the Book of Mormon.
- Factual Learning: You will understand the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and associated doctrine and principles related to missionary work revealed by God through prophets, seers, and revelators. You will understand the divine purpose of missionary work and the blessings associated with it.
- Conceptual Learning: You will learn and practice skills that will improve missionary effectiveness such as effective gospel study, planning and goal setting, time management, and teaching and extending invitations to others. You will create lesson outlines to teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ more effectively to others.
- Application Learning: You will be able to teach the missionary lessons effectively to members of the Church and to those who are not members. You will understand revealed doctrine and principles in a way that enables you to apply the doctrine and principles in your own life.
Lincoln Blumell is the associate dean over research in Religious Education. He was surprised Dybantsa chose to take Religion 101 but he told Deseret News it “makes sense for a student who isn’t a Latter-day Saint to take a class that is steeped in what missionaries will teach and preach.”
“It’s covering the essential principles of the gospel, so it could be a real introduction to the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Blumell said.
From my limited understanding, it is also pretty easy. So that probably factored into the equation…
Regardless of the reason for his choice, I love the idea of AJ Dybantsa — a top NBA prospect with a seven-foot wingspan — sitting alongside classmates who are preparing to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Quite the contrast!