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Following Potential 2026 Draftees

Pretty good game highlight video highlighting AJ's bag here. The plays to pay the most attention to are the very first play, the play at the 41 second mark (should have been an and 1 as he was hit on the elbow), the play at the 1:04 mark, and the final play in the video. All 4 plays are basically the same thing and are his go to move which is pretty much unstoppable. He can get that shot whenever he wants and he is very efficient at knocking it down:


View: https://youtu.be/4_0dhnANDUI?si=9Qe9CGf0X5BDWiLt
 
A lot of guys have a big bag. Take Keyonte for instance. He can score in many ways from all 3 levels. One thing he lacks though is a true go to, nearly unstoppable, move when your team needs a bucket.
Thats the nice thing about AJ. He also has a big ol diverse bag but if you are ever down 1 or 2 with 20 seconds left in a game you can dump it to AJ in the mid post or he can dribble his way into the mid post and then get his step back/fadeaway jumper that is nearly unstoppable and nearly automatic. Only way to really stop it is to send a double team in which case AJ is a good and willing passer to find the open man.
 
I would like AJ to be quicker into actions and better playing in a system. And have more concise biomechanics (his limbs kinda flop around/too much wasted movement). I also don’t think almost anyone in the NBA regularly get cleared out post-ups that eat 5 seconds of the clock, so I’m not sure we should be happy that that’s where he seems to get a lot of his buckets.
 
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NUMBERICA said:
I would like AJ to be quicker into actions and better playing in a system. And have more concise biomechanics (his limbs kinda flop around, lots of wasted movement).
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I think your second criticism is inaccurate or unwarranted. Or maybe provide context for that particular critique. He is playing in a system right now and its going fantastically.
BYU is ranked highly and playing amazing team basketball. AJ is 3rd on the team in volume and field goal attempts despite being the most efficient of the main scorers. He is a ball mover and willing passer and an unselfish player. Despite the low volume and low field goal attempts he has scored 15 points in every game of his career which passed up Kevin Durant for most games with 15 points or more to begin a career in the Big 12.

If you are correct and he is not playing well in a system then im not seeing the consequences of it since the team and player are both thriving while he struggles to play in the system.

I do agree with your first criticism though. He is very patient and methodical and its hard for the defender to speed him up. He can control pace similar to how Luka does his thing.
Also, yes he is long limbed and a bit awkward looking with his movements.
 
fishonjazz said:
I think your second criticism is inaccurate or unwarranted. Or maybe provide context for that particular critique. He is playing in a system right now and its going fantastically.
BYU is ranked highly and playing amazing team basketball. AJ is 3rd on the team in volume and field goal attempts despite being the most efficient of the main scorers. He is a ball mover and willing passer and an unselfish player. Despite the low volume and low field goal attempts he has scored 15 points in every game of his career which passed up Kevin Durant for most games with 15 points or more to begin a career in the Big 12.

If you are correct and he is not playing well in a system then im not seeing the consequences of it since the team and player are both thriving while he struggles to play in the system.
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That can work in the NCAA, it won’t work in the NBA unless he’s a legit All NBA 1st team kinda guy. Offenses are just so much better, and it’s because teams are running better stuff.

But as we all know, what a teenager is as a freshman isn’t what they are as they develop in the NBA. I’m just feeling pretty underwhelmed with the tape relative to the hype. He’s an obvious blue-chip.
 
NUMBERICA said:
That can work in the NCAA, it won’t work in the NBA unless he’s a legit All NBA 1st team kinda guy. Offenses are just so much better, and it’s because teams are running better stuff.

But as we all know, what a teenager is as a freshman isn’t what they are as they develop in the NBA. I’m just feeling pretty underwhelmed with the tape relative to the hype. He’s an obvious blue-chip.
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What is it that wont work in the nba (you didn't specify)? That he doesn't play well in a system? I still haven't heard any specifics on how you came to the conclusion that he doesn't play well in a system.
As i said earlier in this thread, I think people would be more hyped by the tape if BYU decided to make AJ the system and feed him volume/touches/shots and he was putting up huge efficient numbers instead of just good efficient numbers. Instead, BYU is running a pro system (running an nba system is literally what Kevin Young is known for) and making AJ play in that pro style system and he and the team are both excelling at it.

My critiques for AJ are that his handle is too loose (which makes some sense due to his size, but it still could be better) and I dont trust his 3 point shot. Right now he is shooting 35% from 3 and I actually think that number will decline as the season progresses.
 
fishonjazz said:
What is it that wont work in the nba (you didn't specify)? That he doesn't play well in a system? I still haven't heard any specifics on how you came to the conclusion that he doesn't play well in a system.
As i said earlier in this thread, I think people would be more hyped by the tape if BYU decided to make AJ the system and feed him volume/touches/shots and he was putting up huge efficient numbers instead of just good efficient numbers. Instead, BYU is running a pro system (running an nba system is literally what Kevin Young is known for) and making AJ play in that pro style system and he and the team are both excelling at it.

My critiques for AJ are that his handle is too loose (which makes some sense due to his size, but it still could be better) and I dont trust his 3 point shot. Right now he is shooting 35% from 3 and I actually think that number will decline as the season progresses.
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Just seems he does a bunch of ball-stopping. I don’t care if that’s part of the system, it’s usually relatively bad offense in the NBA which is why teams have been moving away from that for 20 years.

But I am very much a casual. I’m just not usually very impressed when I watch his sizzle reel (relative to the hype).
 
NUMBERICA said:
Just seems he does a bunch of ball-stopping. I don’t care if that’s part of the system, it’s usually relatively bad offense in the NBA which is why teams have been moving away from that for 20 years.

But I am very much a casual. I’m just not usually very impressed when I watch his sizzle reel (relative to the hype).
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That would be fair I guess if it were true but he just doesn't have the ball enough to stop it enough for it to be an issue. Their point guard rob wright holds the ball alot. As far as the overall point in relation to the nba it seems to me that most great teams have a ball stopper. They are usually the best player on a given team. I see it with SGA, Cade cunningham, Jokic, Tatum, booker, luka, etc. I think many teams want the ball to stop in their stars hands for a bit. Would be a little nonsensical to have the ball moving equally to other lesser players imo. Anywho, ball stopping isn't the case with AJ in the first place. He moves the ball as much as most of his teammates though admittedly he also does something with the ball in hand more than most of his teammates as well just like most coaches would prefer from their best player.

For example, I looked up the OKC thunder from last season when they won the chip. SGA usage percentage was 34.8%. 2nd on the team was Jalen williams at 27.5%. A difference of about 7%. 3rd is Aaron Wiggins at 20.3%. Big gaps
AJ Dybantsa so far this season is at 28.9%. 2nd on the team is rob wright at 26.6%. A difference of about 2%. 3rd is richie saunders at 25.5% All bunched together. BYU shares the ball more than most nba teams im guessing.
Im not going to go through all nba teams but my guess would be that most of the time the teams best player has the ball in their hands quite a bit more than their teammates do. But that isn't the case with AJ. He barely has the ball more that his teammates and I would argue the difference between AJ's usage percentage and the next guy should be bigger. AJ should ball hog more often imo. I think he passes and moves the ball too much (he is second on the team in assist percentage)
 
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