Potential No. 1 NBA Draft pick AJ Dybantsa says he 'might not leave college', but BYU star can't be serious
AJ Dybantsa, widely projected as a potential No. 1 pick in a future NBA Draft, recently floated the idea that he “might not leave college” early for the league. It is the kind of remark that grabs attention, especially when it involves a high-profile BYU star, but it is hard to believe anyone around the NBA is taking it at face value.
Every year, elite prospects talk about loving college life, valuing development, or not being in a rush to turn pro. Those sentiments can be genuine, yet the calculus changes quickly when an NBA front office is ready to invest top-pick money, a featured role, and a long-term development plan. For a player in Dybantsa’s tier, the financial and basketball incentives to declare as soon as he is eligible are overwhelming.
From the league’s perspective, a talent like Dybantsa is not simply another lottery ticket. Potential No. 1 picks are treated as franchise pivots. Front offices scout them for years, build draft boards around them, and sometimes time their roster resets to align with their draft class. The idea that such a player would willingly delay entry without a compelling reason runs counter to how the modern NBA ecosystem functions.
There is also the injury risk. Staying in college longer than necessary exposes a top prospect to unnecessary wear and potential setbacks before securing guaranteed NBA money. Advisors, agents, and even college coaches understand this dynamic. They may publicly support whatever a player says about staying, but privately they know what is at stake.
More likely, Dybantsa’s comment reflects a mix of media training, genuine comfort with his current situation, and an understandable desire to avoid sounding obsessed with the NBA before he even gets there. Still, when draft night approaches and executives line up with max rookie-scale offers and a clear pathway to stardom, it is difficult to imagine him passing that up.
In the end, the “might not leave college” line makes for a fun headline. The league, however, will be planning as if AJ Dybantsa is on the way.
Every year, elite prospects talk about loving college life, valuing development, or not being in a rush to turn pro. Those sentiments can be genuine, yet the calculus changes quickly when an NBA front office is ready to invest top-pick money, a featured role, and a long-term development plan. For a player in Dybantsa’s tier, the financial and basketball incentives to declare as soon as he is eligible are overwhelming.
From the league’s perspective, a talent like Dybantsa is not simply another lottery ticket. Potential No. 1 picks are treated as franchise pivots. Front offices scout them for years, build draft boards around them, and sometimes time their roster resets to align with their draft class. The idea that such a player would willingly delay entry without a compelling reason runs counter to how the modern NBA ecosystem functions.
There is also the injury risk. Staying in college longer than necessary exposes a top prospect to unnecessary wear and potential setbacks before securing guaranteed NBA money. Advisors, agents, and even college coaches understand this dynamic. They may publicly support whatever a player says about staying, but privately they know what is at stake.
More likely, Dybantsa’s comment reflects a mix of media training, genuine comfort with his current situation, and an understandable desire to avoid sounding obsessed with the NBA before he even gets there. Still, when draft night approaches and executives line up with max rookie-scale offers and a clear pathway to stardom, it is difficult to imagine him passing that up.
In the end, the “might not leave college” line makes for a fun headline. The league, however, will be planning as if AJ Dybantsa is on the way.
