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AJ Dybantsa earns coveted spot at Team USA U19 camp

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steven Corder | Last updated May 21, 2025 1:26 PM ET

If there was ever any doubt that AJ Dybantsa was ready for the national spotlight, it vanished the moment his name appeared on USA Basketball’s Under-19 training camp roster.

Dybantsa, BYU’s highly touted freshman and top-tier recruit, has officially been invited to train with Team USA from June 14–16 in Colorado Springs. The goal? To make the final roster that will represent the United States at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland.

It’s another major milestone for the 6-foot-8 forward from Brockton, Massachusetts, who’s no stranger to international hardwood. He was a gold medalist with the U17 National Team in Turkey last summer and as well as with the U16 squad in Mexico in 2023. Earlier this year, he dropped 24 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals in the Nike Hoop Summit win over the World Select Team.

“We’re confident that we will build the best team to compete in Switzerland from this group of USA Basketball veterans and newcomers,” said USA Basketball Men’s National Team director Sean Ford.

Already on campus at BYU and training with head coach Kevin Young, Dybantsa is gearing up to be the face of the Cougars’ program in their second Big 12 season. His selection to Team USA’s training camp puts BYU in the national conversation—before he’s even played a collegiate game.

And he’s not going alone. JJ Mandaquit, Dybantsa’s former Utah Prep teammate and current Washington Huskies signee, was also invited. The two were instrumental in Team USA’s U17 success and will now reunite in Colorado Springs.

Notably, the U19 training camp staff includes some familiar names—Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd as head coach and Texas Tech’s Grant McCasland assisting—both of whom Dybantsa will likely face this winter in conference play. Former BYU coach and current Kentucky head man Mark Pope also returns as a court coach.

Cougar Nation, get ready. The AJ Dybantsa era is already making waves on the international stage.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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