BYU basketball star freshman AJ Dybantsa wants you to know he’s got no issues staying on the court.
There’s been a lot of discussion about playing time and availability when it comes to Darryn Peterson, the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
The Kansas freshman has missed 11 games and has pulled himself out of games in the second half on occasion, causing many to question his perch as college basketball’s top prospect.
Dybantsa, a rival for that No. 1 spot in the draft, offers no such concerns.
The Cougars star led No. 22 BYU to a 79-69 upset win over No. 6 Iowa State on Saturday, Feb. 21, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists — and maybe more importantly, 40 minutes.
‘If they need me to play 40 minutes, I’ll play 40 minutes,’ Dybantsa said postgame Saturday.
Dybantsa has averaged 40.5 minutes over his past four games (includes an overtime win over Colorado).
Peterson is averaging 27.2 minutes per game.
Dybantsa is averaging 24.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for the Cougars (20-7, 8-6), while Peterson leads the Jayhawks with 19.8 ppg.
They are the headliners of a super-talented freshman class that should dominate the summer’s draft. It will be interesting to see how much NBA scouts value availability and whether Peterson can calm any fears teams may have.