AJ Dybantsa is making more money in approximately one year at BYU than most of the Cougars’ staffers… combined. The college basketball phenom chose to give back for Christmas.
He is embracing the spirit of Provo, a place that already means so much to him and his family.
To see an athlete show his gratitude for the people who work hard behind the scenes is awesome. It takes a village to run a college basketball program!
AJ Dybantsa is making HOW MUCH?!
There may not be a more hyped recruit in history than Dybantsa. Guys like Greg Oden, Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis, Cade Cunningham, and even Michael Porter Jr. are some of the biggest names in fairly recent history but they did not play in the NIL era.
As a result, those guys were not attached to monster paychecks (publicly) throughout their recruitments.
Dybantsa received scholarship offers from 29 programs. Kansas, USC, Texas, Ole Miss, Illinois, Baylor, Houston and others were in the mix but his decision ultimately came down to BYU, Alabama and UNC. There was a lot of money involved.
Financial compensation is not the only reason Dybantsa ultimately landed in Provo. Head coach Kevin Young proved to be the deciding factor but the money helped. Members of the Utah Jazz brass stepped up financially to pay him anywhere between $4-7 million. The 6-foot-9 small forward denied the $7 million price tag so the deal likely hovers closer to $4.5 or $5 million for one single season.
He is only 18 years old!
BYU is a national title contender in college basketball.
The Dybantsa family recently spoke about their time in Utah during an appearance on the ‘Y’s Guys‘ livestream. They never expected to be where they are but they have grown to love the people, the community and the culture.
“Sometimes I have to pinch myself,” Ace Dybantsa said. “I’m in Utah of all places. A kid from Africa is in Utah. We love it here. People have been great to us. They have embraced our family and have definitely embraced AJ.”
Although it might seem like a weird fit, it has been a great success thus far.
The true freshman combo guard recorded 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists during a dominant win over Eastern Washington on Monday. It was the first triple-double of his career!
BYU fans showed him love as soon as he checked out of the game.
He showed them love right back as soon as the clock hit zero.
The Cougars are legitimate national title contenders and their $4.5 million five-star freshman is as advertised. He is worth every penny thus far.
Merry Christmas!
Needless to say, AJ Dybantsa has embraced the people and culture of BYU. That includes every last person on the staff. Managers, play-by-play broadcasters, everyone.
Dybantsa recently gifted every single contributor to the program for Christmas.
Money is no object for a multimillionaire but he did not have to give back to the people around him. It was an admirable gesture for a young man who has already made a significant impact on the community.
And the gifts were not cheap!
Greg Wrubell, the voice of the Cougars, received a pair of the Air Force 1 Low Kobe Bryant Lenticulars. They cost no less than $175 on the secondary market.
In a world where the top collegiate athletes are making seven figures, it is refreshing to see Dybantsa show his gratitude to the people around him.