Patrick Kinahan: Dybantsa was worth the money in BYU's disappointing season

PROVO — These two truths, which may seem incongruent, were evident for the BYU basketball program this season:

• Minus a few exceptions, compared to expectations, the results were disappointing.
• Whatever the amount of money AJ Dybantsa got this season, he was worth it.

Let's start with the more debatable of the two points — that being Dybantsa and the cash, which was estimated anywhere from a few million dollars all the way up to $8 million. Whatever the figure was, the Dybantsa family is well off.

Even as the season flopped, Dybantsa, at minimum, lived up the billing. Often playing the entire 40 minutes, he led the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game. Along the way, the athletically gifted player produced a slew of highlights that rank among the greatest in program history.

Dybantsa came into the season battling with others to be the first player taking in the NBA draft in June. Most mock drafts now project him to go No. 1.

From a publicity standpoint, Dybantsa brought an unmeasurable amount of positive attention to BYU and its faith-based sponsoring church. National commentators on television lavished praise on his playing ability, often bringing up the religion class that was his favorite.

Not to suggest that Dybantsa was the first or only one, but his stay at BYU is a great example of non-church members flourishing in the university's environment. He will leave BYU as an ambassador for the program, a fact that will only serve to advance coach Kevin Young's desire to build a national powerhouse.

One year after Egor Demin was selected eighth in the draft, if he departs as expected, Dybantsa will be BYU's second consecutive lottery pick. Incoming five-star recruit Bruce Branch could make it three straight lottery picks — uncharted territory for BYU.

The other fact, regardless of variables, is indisputable. The season that began with the most promise in program history crumbled before the collective eyes of the rabid fan base that created frenzied energy at the Marriott Center.

Visions of a berth in the Final Four danced through the minds of all following the program — from the head coach to the players and the national media. It started nearly one year before the season even began, traced back to the day Dybantsa announced his surprising college choice live on national television.

Well-known host Stephen A. Smith appeared shocked at the five-star recruit's decision to turn down virtually every blueblood in college basketball. Smith brought up all the possibilities Dybansta could experience by playing at Duke only to have him retort: Why couldn't he enjoy the same at BYU.

The now infamous eye-popping quote from a high-roller BYU booster two months later poured a truckload of gas to the expectations. In an ESPN story that was published in February 2025, Paul Liljenquist said: "You're not going to outbid us."

During the Big 12 football media days in Texas in July, athletic director Brian Santiago said on The Zone Sports Network that the booster was misquoted. Hard to believe, though, the writer would misquote a matter-of-fact statement of that magnitude.

Nevertheless, with or without the quote, BYU is a financially rich program capable of bringing in the type of players not traditionally associated with the program. The talent was there with Dybantsa, Baylor transfer Rob Wright and holdover Richie Saunders to anticipate a long run in the NCAA Tournament.

Instead, 11-seeded Texas summarily bounced the sixth-seeded Cougars in the first round, which should not have come as a surprise considering they finished 10th in the Big 12. Harsh as it may be, BYU was among the most disappointing teams in the country.

Multiple season-ending injuries unquestionably played a significant role in the slide, but other factors also contributed. Weeks before Saunders went down, BYU had lost four consecutive games to start what would end with a 9-9 conference record.

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