AJ Dybantsa at BYU and Cameron Boozer at Duke are not just great for first year players. They are two of the best players in the country, period. With both teams sitting at 14–1, the conversation has shifted from potential to impact.
AJ Dybantsa Is Changing the Way People Look at BYU
AJ Dybantsa has turned BYU into must watch television. From the opening weeks of the season, it was clear this was not going to be a slow adjustment year. He scores easily, makes smart reads, and never looks rushed.
He is averaging just over 23 points per game while shooting close to 60 percent from the floor. That combination is rare, especially for a freshman seeing double teams every night. What stands out most is how calm he looks. Whether it is a fast break dunk or a tough bucket late in the shot clock, the moment never seems too big.
For the BYU Cougars, that has been everything. At 14–1 and holding their own early in Big 12 play, BYU is leaning on Dybantsa not just to score, but to settle the team when games get tight. BYU is in a big time rivalry game on Saturday against Utah.
Cameron Boozer Has Been Duke’s Rock All Season
Cameron Boozer has taken a different path, but the result is just as impressive. Night after night, he shows up and produces. Duke fans know what they are getting, and that reliability matters.
Boozer leads the country in scoring at just over 23 points per game, and he is also one of the top rebounding freshmen in the nation. He has already piled up multiple double doubles and has not had an off night. Even when Duke struggles offensively, Boozer finds ways to score around the rim or clean up misses.
For the Duke Blue Devils, his consistency has been the backbone of a 14–1 start. In big moments, the ball finds Boozer, and more often than not, something good happens. The Blue Devils are set to host SMU on Sunday.
Same Numbers, Different Styles
On the stat sheet, these two look almost identical. Both average more than 23 points. Both play heavy minutes. Both are key reasons their teams keep winning.
The difference comes in how they get there. Dybantsa thrives on efficiency and flow. He scores without forcing the issue and keeps teammates involved. Boozer plays with strength and presence. He attacks mismatches, controls the glass, and wears teams down over 40 minutes.
Neither style is better. They are just different, and that is what makes the comparison fun.
Winning Has Raised the Stakes
If either team were hovering around .500, this would feel like a fun storyline. Instead, both BYU and Duke are national contenders. Every big game adds pressure, and every performance gets magnified.
Conference play will only make things tougher. Defenses will key in even more. Road games will test composure. How each freshman handles those moments will shape not only award races, but how far their teams can go in March.
A Debate That Is Not Going Away
Right now, there is no wrong answer. Some fans will lean toward Dybantsa’s efficiency and impact on a rising BYU program. Others will side with Boozer’s consistency and leadership at Duke.
That is the beauty of it. This is not a debate about who might be great someday. It is about who is better right now, and the season still has a long way to go.