In an era where one-and-done is the norm and players can't wait to cash their first NBA check, AJ Dybantsa is doing something different. Something refreshing. Something that deserves to be celebrated.
The top NBA prospect announced he will declare for the 2026 NBA Draft while simultaneously continuing to work toward his mass communications degree at BYU online, with plans to complete it within four years.
Let me say that again: He's going to chase his NBA dreams and get his diploma. Both. Not one or the other. Both.
"My mom wanted me to stay in college to graduate," Dybantsa said, according to NBA.com. "But I told my mother that I'm going to declare for the draft and also finish and get my degree online. I'll probably finish within the next four years."
That's what sports is all about, folks.
You don't have to choose between your dreams and your education. You don't have to sacrifice one to achieve the other. Dybantsa is proving that with proper planning and commitment, you can do both.
This isn't just about setting a good example - though he's absolutely doing that. This is about understanding that an NBA career, no matter how successful, doesn't last forever. Injuries happen. Circumstances change. Having that degree, having that education to fall back on, matters.
Dybantsa attended the Davis School until fifth grade and credits that experience with instilling in him the importance of education. Now he's carrying that lesson forward into his professional career. He's not running from college - he's incorporating it into his journey.
Think about the message this sends to young players watching. You can be elite at basketball and value your education. You can pursue your NBA dreams and finish your degree. You don't have to be one-dimensional.
