When AJ Dybantsa was just five years old, mornings and evenings at home weren’t for cartoons or video games—they were for 100 push-ups.
His dad, Ace, made sure that all three of his children took part, even AJ’s little sister, who was only three at the time.
It wasn’t about punishment, but discipline.
Ace, who grew up in Paris after being born in the Congo and later worked as a Boston police officer, believed that habits built early would carry far in life.
The “Tough Love” Parenting Playbook
Working the overnight shift, Ace often got only two or three hours of sleep before checking in on his kids’ progress.
When he suspected they were skipping push-ups, he set up a hidden camera—and caught them red-handed.
The penalty? Doubling the daily count to 200 push-ups. His wife would protest—“This is not the military!”—but Ace stood firm.
“I’m about accountability,” he said. And now, at 18, AJ is the No. 1 high school basketball prospect in the U.S., predicted to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
The College Choice Nobody Saw Coming
With offers from basketball powerhouses like Alabama, North Carolina, and Kansas, most assumed AJ would follow the traditional path to the NBA.
Instead, he chose Brigham Young University—a private, predominantly white Mormon school in Provo, Utah, with a strict Honor Code and no national championship history in basketball.
It’s a school where students pledge to avoid alcohol, smoking, premarital sex, even coffee and tea. It’s a decision that stunned the sports world.
BYU’s Big Sports Ambitions
For BYU, AJ’s arrival is historic. He’s the highest-rated recruit in the school’s history and the most visible sign of their ambition to become a major sports powerhouse.
BYU is already attracting top talent across sports, including highly ranked football recruit Ryder Lyons, and has invested heavily in facilities, staff, and recruitment.
The rise of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals—and now direct revenue-sharing with players—has given schools like BYU the tools to compete with traditional giants.
The NIL Game-Changer
AJ’s NIL package at BYU is reportedly worth between $5 million and $8.5 million, with deals from Nike, Red Bull, and Fanatics.
BYU’s athletic budget has doubled in less than a decade, powered by wealthy donors from Utah’s booming “Silicon Slopes” tech hub.
And while critics question whether money drove the decision, Ace insists it didn’t—other schools offered more.
The deciding factor was BYU head coach Kevin Young, a former NBA assistant with connections to stars like Joel Embiid and AJ’s idol, Kevin Durant.
Building a Professional Program on Campus
Over the past year, BYU has transformed its basketball program into something resembling an NBA setup.
The coaching staff includes specialists in diet, strength training, analytics, and player development. “My ultimate goal is to go to the NBA,” AJ said.
“Why not surround myself a year early?” For BYU, the hope is that landing a player like AJ will open the door to even more top recruits.
Life in Utah – Quiet, Focused, and Basketball-Obsessed
AJ is no stranger to Utah—he played his senior year of high school at Utah Prep, far from big-city distractions.
His hobbies are simple: playing basketball and watching basketball. His father keeps him grounded, even threatening to take away his phone if he slips up.
“If he messes up today, he knows Daddy’s gonna take his phone,” Ace says with a laugh.
High Stakes and No Hiding
Three hours north of where he played high school ball, AJ now steps into BYU’s high-pressure spotlight.
The school has invested heavily, and expectations are sky-high.
For AJ, the plan is simple—one standout season, then the NBA.
For BYU, it’s about proving they can rise to the top of college sports “the right way,” as their athletic director puts it.