BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa was named a First Team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) on March 18.
Dybantsa’s recognition places him among an elite group in BYU history, as he becomes one of only three players from the program to earn multiple First Team All-American honors, joining Jimmer Fredette and Danny Ainge.
Throughout his first collegiate season, Dybantsa has scored in double figures in all 34 games. He enters the NCAA Tournament leading the nation with an average of 25.3 points per game, shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 34 percent from three-point range, and 76.4 percent from the free throw line. He has scored at least 20 points in 27 games this season, including a streak of 13 consecutive games with more than 20 points—the second-longest such streak in BYU history. Dybantsa also set a new freshman single-game scoring record for BYU with a 43-point performance against Utah on January 24.
In addition to his national honors, Dybantsa was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year after averaging 25.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game during conference play. His season included two double-doubles, highlighted by a game with 20 points and 13 rebounds in an overtime win over Colorado on February 14.
BYU is set to begin its NCAA Tournament campaign on Thursday, March 19, facing either Texas or North Carolina State at the Moda Center in Portland.
