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AJ Dybantsa is all over social media after insane vertical jump surfaces

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeff Hauser | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 3:54 PM ET

AJ Dybantsa is already making noise in Provo and he hasn’t even played a college game yet.

The incoming BYU freshman is widely projected as a top contender for the top overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and it’s easy to see why. Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 wing with ridiculous bounce, recently showed off an insane vertical that has the internet in a frenzy.

A photo circulating online appears to show him hovering near the top of the backboard, with his feet practically at chest height of the BYU staffer below. Even if the angle is doing him some favors, this is still a reported 42-inch vertical and it looks every bit of it.

dude isn’t human fr https://t.co/Synfa8RCWp pic.twitter.com/VsgvlPyiuK
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) July 29, 2025

It’s rare to see this much buzz around a college player in July, but Dybantsa isn’t your average freshman. He’s a prototype wing, the kind of player NBA teams build their entire roster around. His combination of size and explosive athleticism is as elite as it gets. And it's made even more terrifying when you remember he's only 17 years old. Dybantsa is also coming off MVP honors at the FIBA U19 World Cup.

The wildest part? It’s not even the vertical jump that has NBA scouts excited. It’s what he does with that athleticism when the ball’s in his hands as a dynamic shot-making and ability to crash the basket. Dybantsa highlight reel is a mixtape of dunks, blocks, and perimeter shooting.

People are comparing him to other top prospects like Kansas' Darryn Peterson and Duke's Cameron Boozer. That kind of attention helps college basketball as a whole. It’s weird to think of BYU as the epicenter of the sport, but thanks to Dybantsa, it just might be.

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

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