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The Big Thing: BYU top recruit AJ Dybantsa gets Big 12 preview with Team USA at U19 World Cup

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BYU top recruit AJ Dybantsa gets Big 12 preview with Team USA at U19 World Cup.

Speaking of Dybantsa in the Big 12, we know which conference road trips the Cougars will take next season.

 

The top prospect in college basketball is heading to Allen Fieldhouse to play Kansas. He’ll also be on the road at the McKale Center at Arizona and in Lubbock against Texas Tech, two of the tougher environments in the league.

 

There were some missed opportunities, though. Kansas won’t make the return trip to Provo this year, meaning Dybantsa will only see fellow top prospect Darryn Peterson once in the regular season.

 

BYU also won’t go on the road to Iowa State, another top venue in the Big 12.

 

But the good news is BYU will play Utah, Texas Tech and Arizona twice over the 18 game schedule, six high-quality games.

 

Fourth down

1. What comes next?

 

We talked to several legal experts to discuss the questions facing BYU with quarterback Jake Retzlaff’s situation still unsettled.

 

2. The Baker rule

 

An NCAA rule change was inspired by Dawson Baker’s ejection in the NCAA Tournament last year.

 

3. Drew talks

 

Scott Drew gave his thoughts on losing transfer Rob Wright to BYU.

 

4. Close call?

 

The Big 12 apparently didn’t think the end of the BYU-Utah game was particularly close.AJ Dybantsa is getting his first taste of Big 12 basketball in a rather unexpected way this week.

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The No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class won’t see a conference opponent until BYU’s league opener in December. But he is getting a Big 12 preview via Team USA basketball.

 

Dybantsa is playing on Team USA’s U19 team in the FIBA World Cup this summer. He’ll take off for Switzerland and play at least three games next week, starting on June 28 against Australia.

 

The coaching staff will have a heavy Big 12 presence. Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd is the head coach, with Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland as his assistant.

 

Dybantsa will play against both the Wildcats and Red Raiders next season.

 

There are other familiar names helping out with Team USA during training camp. Former BYU coach, and current Kentucky coach, Mark Pope is helping with on-court instruction. Alabama coach Nate Oats, who beat BYU in the Sweet 16, is there. And North Carolina coach Hubert Davis, who will see Dybantsa in a scrimmage at the Delta Center in a few months, is instructing.

 

You can watch Dybantsa and the U.S. in group play on June 28, 29 and July 1 in the morning hours. The tipoffs are scheduled for 9:15 a.m., noon and 9:15 a.m. MDT, respectively.

 

The games will be available to stream on YouTube.

 

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