BYU Donors Keep Spending Big Despite Scrutiny Over $7M Star Recruit Claim
BYU basketball’s financial resources appear nearly limitless. The Cougars are aggressively acquiring elite players from both high school and the transfer portal in hopes of building on their recent momentum.
In head coach Kevin Young’s debut season, BYU reached the Sweet 16. He’s investing heavily to push the team to even greater heights.
Young took the job last April and got to work fast, assembling a strong roster. That effort included signing Egor Demin, a projected NBA first-rounder. After that, he set his sights on long-term goals.
He secured a major win by signing the top 2025 recruit, AJ Dybantsa, in November. The standout forward is set to join the Cougars next season.
Speculation swirled around the cost of his commitment. Some outlets reported he commanded $7 million in NIL deals, with a $5 million base and added endorsement money.
There were even claims that Utah Jazz executives offered a blank check to land Dybantsa. Supposedly, they were prepared to pay whatever it took.
However, AJ Dybantsa has denied those NIL rumors. He recently played in the McDonald’s All-American Game, where a fan directly asked about the $7 million story. Dybantsa called the figure inaccurate.
He claims he hasn’t earned that much, though he’s still likely one of college basketball’s top NIL earners. He impressed at the All-American Game, scoring 17 points with 58% shooting accuracy.
Dybantsa may refute the $7 million figure, but BYU’s financial might remains evident. This week, the program continued its spending spree in pursuit of talent.
Rob Wright has now committed to BYU basketball… Reportedly for $3.5 million. Wright is transferring after a season at Baylor, where he completed his freshman year.
He posted averages of 11.5 points and 4.2 assists per game. Now at BYU, he’ll aim to raise those numbers with the support of a strong surrounding cast.
BYU brought in Kevin Young for multiple reasons, including his coaching background and NBA experience. But his attitude toward NIL was also key.
“If someone can show me a school whose donors shouldn’t be acknowledged, I’d like to hear it. That’s just the reality. These days, it’s often the foundation…
“One of the main reasons I chose BYU was the incredible fan base and generous donors. Plenty of schools have pride, but I think BYU stands alone when it comes to passion, values, and the number of successful alumni it produces.”
– Kevin Young
BYU isn’t shy about investing in its basketball program. The donors have the resources—and clearly, the desire—to support high-level recruiting.
