AJ Dybansta's near triple-double lifts BYU to Iowa State upset originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
AJ Dybantsa may be starting to create real separation in the race for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The freshman star poured in 29 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out nine assists to lead No. 23 BYU to a 79-69 victory over No. 6 Iowa State on Saturday night, delivering his most complete performance of the season at a pivotal time.
Kennard Davis Jr. added 17 points and Mihailo Boskovic scored 13 for the Cougars (20-7, 8-6 Big 12), who outscored the Cyclones 40-22 in the paint and owned a 39-28 rebounding edge. BYU used a 13-3 run midway through the second half to regain control after Iowa State trimmed the deficit to 57-54.
For NBA scouts, the spotlight was firmly on Dybantsa. Many evaluators view him and Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson as neck-and-neck candidates for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Lately, however, Dybantsa has surged. This comes with Richie Saunders suffering a season-ending injury.
“He’s showing people night in and night out how reliable he is,” BYU coach Kevin Young said. “I thought it was his most complete game of the season.”
According to ESPN Research, Dybantsa is averaging 28.2 points over BYU’s past five games against AP Top 10 opponents.
More: Carmelo Anthony calls on NBA to address Darryn Peterson controversy
On the other end, Peterson finished with 17 points in Kansas’ 84-68 loss to Cincinnati. He has appeared in 16 of 27 games while battling injuries and illness. However, the Jayhawks star has also subbed himself out of game, sparking backlash from many analysts.
With March Madness quickly approaching, talent isn’t the question. Availability and performances like Saturday may define the narrative.
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- AJ Dybantsa makes college basketball history never done by NBA stars
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