ATLANTA, Ga. – BYU’s AJ Dybantsa has been named to the 30-player late season team for the 2026 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Thursday.
Dybantsa is one of seven players from the Big 12 on the list as the he is joined by fellow freshmen Brayden Burries (Arizona), Kingston Flemmings (Houston) and Darryn Peterson (Kansas).
The nation’s leading scorer at 24.8 points per game finished with 35 points in Wednesday’s 75-68 setback to No. 4 Arizona to break Danny Ainge’s freshman scoring record. In 26 games this season, Dybantsa has scored 644 points, 12 more than Ainge had during his freshman campaign in 1977-78.
How AJ Dybantsa broke BYU's freshman scoring record 🔥 pic.twitter.com/r1AmqeIDXN
— ESPN (@espn) February 19, 2026
The 6-foot-9 forward has scored in double figures in all 26 games as a Cougar which is the third-longest streak to begin a career in Big 12 history. He already holds BYU freshman records in 20-point games, 30-point games, triple-doubles, free throws made and free throws attempted.
BYU returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 21, when the Cougars host No. 6 Iowa State at the Marriott Center. Tip is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. MT.