AJ Dybantsa stats today: Potential No. 1 pick makes loud statement despite season-ending loss to Texas
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AJ Dybantsa stats today: Potential No. 1 pick makes loud statement despite season-ending loss to Texas originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft AJ Dybantsa lived up to every ounce of the hype during his NCAA Tournament debut. The future lottery pick certainly would have rather come out on the winning end of Thursday's Round of 64 contest against Texas, but those who watched the game won't soon forget Dybantsa's performance.
After leading the nation in scoring at 25.3 points per game and carrying BYU to a No. 6 seed, the freshman phenom proved that his elite skill set translates perfectly to the high-stakes environment of March Madness.
In BYU's 79-71 loss to Texas in Portland, Dybantsa was electric. The Brockton, Mass., native came out blazing hot with 20 points in the first half alone. He finished the game with 35 points and eight rebounds. And while his season is now over, the legacy he leaves behind at BYU is undebatable.
Here's more on Dybantsa's performance against the Longhorns.
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AJ Dybantsa stats today
Dybantsa led all scorers in BYU-Texas, flashing his playmaking ability from the first minute until the final buzzer.
- Points: 35
- Rebounds: 10
- Assists: 1
- Shots/Attempts: 11/25
- Three Point Shots/Attempts: 1/7
- Free Throws: 12/12
His 35 points was just four shy of the all-time record for a freshman, set in 2017 by De'Aaron Fox. Dybantsa put up a double-double in his only NCAA Tournament game, flashing every bit of brilliance he's become known for. Moreover, the freshman played 40 minutes, extending a streak where he's played at least 34 dating back to January 17.
In four postseason games, Dybantsa scored at least 26 points in each game. Sadly, his heroics were not enough for BYU, who saw its season end on Thursday night.
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Most points by a freshman in an NCAA Tournament game
While several freshmen have had legendary runs, the gold standard for a single-game scoring performance remains held by De'Aaron Fox. Now a star for the San Antonio Spurs, Fox solidified his place in college basketball history during the 2017 NCAA Tournament while playing for the Kentucky Wildcats.
In a highly anticipated Sweet 16 matchup against UCLA, Fox was unstoppable, pouring in 39 points to lead Kentucky to an 86–75 victory. He shot 13-of-20 from the field and 13-of-15 from the free-throw line, outplaying fellow star freshman Lonzo Ball in the process. To this day, those 39 points represent the most ever scored by a freshman in a single NCAA Tournament game, surpassing the previous record of 35 set by Michigan's Loy Vaught in 1987.
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AJ Dybantsa season stats
Dybantsa has put together one of the most prolific freshman campaigns in college basketball history, entering the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the nation’s leading scorer. Averaging 25.3 points per game, he is on track to become the first underclassman to lead Division I in scoring since 2021. His elite efficiency is equally impressive, shooting 51.3% from the field and 76.4% from the charity stripe while consistently drawing fouls at a high rate (8.4 FTA per game).
His impact on the record books has been immediate and historic. In the Big 12 Tournament, Dybantsa broke Kevin Durant's 19-year-old record for most points in a single tournament, totaling 93 points over three games — headlined by a 40-point masterpiece against Kansas State. That performance made him the only Division I player this century to record a line of 40+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 3+ steals on 70% shooting with zero fouls.
StatisticValuePoints Per Game25.3*Total Points859Field Goal %51.3%Rebounds Per Game6.7Assists Per Game3.8*Leads Division I
HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5
How old is AJ Dybantsa?
Dybantsa is 19 years old. He was born on Jan. 29, 2007, in Brockton, Massachusetts.
Because of his early 2007 birthday, Dybantsa is slightly older than the average college freshman, which has been a major factor in his physical readiness for the collegiate level. His age and development were key drivers in his decision to reclassify from the high school class of 2026 to 2025, allowing him to join BYU a year early. Despite playing against older competition this season, he has consistently been the most dominant physical force on the court, utilizing his 6-foot-9 frame and 19-year-old frame to lead the nation in scoring.
By the time the 2026 NBA Draft arrives in June, Dybantsa will be roughly 19 years and 5 months old.
MORE: Ranking 10 best NBA Draft prospects in 2026 March Madness