BYU's AJ Dybantsa is uncertain about his NBA future, but the choice is obvious

Many believe that BYU Cougars freshman wing AJ Dybantsa is the consensus top prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft.

There's a world in which he goes No. 1 overall when the draft comes around in June. That's not a guarantee, though, because there's also a world in which Dybantsa stays in college a bit longer.

"I might not leave," Dybantsa said, via Deseret News. "I might not leave college. ... my mom wants me to graduate. Yeah, so I might not leave. But I might leave. The fans might get into my head, talking about one more year, maybe three more years. I don't know. I'm going to have to talk to my mom."

It's worth remembering that Dybantsa is 19 years old, and that may be one of the most 19-year-old-ish answers of all time.

He might not leave BYU just yet, but he might...

His mom wants him to stay in college and get a degree, but the fans could also sway him...

That's life being a teenager, and one can only imagine all the pressure that comes along with being a superstar at the college level while potentially being just months away from getting drafted No. 1 overall in the NBA.

AJ Dybantsa would be wise to enter the 2026 NBA Draft

The reality of the situation is that even in the NIL era, where Dybantsa can get paid to play college ball, he should leave for the NBA if he feels confident he can go No. 1 overall.

Last year's No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, signed a four-year rookie contract with the Dallas Mavericks worth about $62.7 million. Dybantsa got a NIL deal to come to BYU worth about $7 million, and that's a huge figure for a college hoops recruit.

Dybantsa is averaging 24.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for BYU this season. He's shooting 53% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the three-point line at 6-foot-9, 210 pounds.

He's made for the NBA game, so it would be surprising if his muddied view of the 2026 NBA Draft doesn't clear up quickly once his freshman season ends.