Every once in a while, a quote pops up in college basketball that makes everyone stop scrolling for a second.
This week, BYU freshman superstar AJ Dybantsa delivered one of those.
“I might not leave college.”
That’s what the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft said during a recent interview. Naturally, that line immediately sent fans, scouts and social media into speculation mode.
Could he actually stay?
Would BYU somehow get another year of the best scorer in the country?
Is college basketball about to win the lottery?
Look, I love the idea. The sport would be incredible with Dybantsa sticking around another season.
But if that actually happens, I will personally eat my hat.
The most electric player in college basketball
Before we get too carried away with the hypothetical, let’s remember what Dybantsa has done this season.
He hasn’t just been good. He has been ridiculous.
The BYU freshman is leading the entire country in scoring at 24.9 points per game. On top of that, he’s averaging 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 53 percent from the field and better than 36 percent from three.
That’s the kind of stat line that makes NBA scouts start clearing space on their draft boards.
Then you watch him play and the numbers somehow make even more sense.
At 6'9, Dybantsa moves like a guard. He can attack off the dribble, shoot from deep, finish through contact and create for teammates. Some nights he looks like he’s playing a completely different sport than everyone else on the floor.
It’s why many people already view him as the safest bet to go No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft.
And usually when you’re projected to go first overall, the decision about staying in school is pretty simple.
The quote that got everyone talking
Still, Dybantsa left the door open during a recent interview.
“I might not leave,” he said. “My mom wants me to graduate, so I might not leave. But I might leave. I don’t know. The fans might get into my head and say one more year.”
First of all, shoutout to mom.
Second, imagine the scene in Provo if he actually did come back. BYU fans would probably build a statue before next season even tipped off.
But as entertaining as the idea is, let’s be honest about the situation.
There are millions and millions of reasons why this is probably his only season in college basketball.
The reality of the NBA Draft
When you’re sitting at or near the top of NBA draft boards, the opportunity in front of you is enormous.
The No. 1 pick isn’t just a basketball milestone. It’s life-changing money, instant stardom and the chance to become the centerpiece of an NBA franchise.
Dybantsa is already making strong NIL money at BYU, but the financial leap that comes with being a top NBA pick is still massive.
NBA teams have also been watching him for years. Front offices across the league have spent this season evaluating him alongside other elite prospects like Kansas star Darryn Peterson and Duke standout Cameron Boozer.
The expectation around the league has been that those players would headline the 2026 draft.
That’s why Dybantsa’s quote caught people off guard.
It’s rare to hear a projected No. 1 pick even hint at staying.
The NIL era does make things interesting
Now, to be fair, the college basketball landscape has changed.
Because of NIL deals, elite players are no longer forced to leave immediately just to start earning real money. In theory, a superstar could stay in school, build a brand and still do very well financially.
So the idea of someone like Dybantsa returning isn’t completely impossible.
But again, let’s circle back to my hat.
If the best scorer in college basketball, a 6-foot-9 superstar with guard skills who is projected to go No. 1 in the NBA Draft, actually comes back to college next season…
I will eat it.
Not metaphorically.
Literally.
Because while it’s fun to dream about one more year of Dybantsa lighting up college basketball, the reality is the NBA is waiting.
And when the draft calls, players like him almost always answer.