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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. 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 opening game against Texas in Portland, Dybantsa was electric. The Brockton, Mass. native came out blazing hot with 20 points in the first half alone.
Here's more on Dybantsa's first-half performance.
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AJ Dybantsa stats today
Dybantsa led all scorers in BYU-Texas, flashing his playmaking ability from the first minute.
- Points: 20
- Rebounds: 2
- Assists: 0
- Shots/Attempts: 7/13
- Three Point Shots/Attempts: 0/2
- Free Throws: 6/6
SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year
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.
SN EXPERT BRACKETS: DeCourcy (Arizona) | Bender (Michigan) | Iyer (Arizona) | Gay (UCLA women)
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.
| Statistic | Value |
| Points Per Game | 25.3* |
| Total Points | 859 |
| Field Goal % | 51.3% |
| Rebounds Per Game | 6.7 |
| Assists Per Game | 3.8 |
*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
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