Eye on the Y: The nation\u2019s No. 1 recruit is seeing his calendar fill up already.<\/p>\n
(Tyler Tate | AP) Anicet “AJ” Dybantsa Jr., the number one player in the 2025 class and BYU commit, stands with the fans during the second half of an NCAA basketball game between BYU and West Virginia Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Provo, Utah.<\/p>\n
AJ Dybantsa<\/a> is getting his first taste of Big 12 basketball in a rather unexpected way this week. <\/p>\n The No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class won\u2019t see a conference opponent until BYU\u2019s league opener in December.<\/a> But he is getting a Big 12 preview via Team USA basketball.<\/p>\n Dybantsa is playing on Team USA\u2019s U19 team in the FIBA World Cup this summer. He\u2019ll take off for Switzerland and play at least three games next week, starting on June 28 against Australia. <\/p>\n The coaching staff will have a heavy Big 12 presence. Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd is the head coach, with Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland as his assistant.<\/p>\n Dybantsa will play against both the Wildcats and Red Raiders next season. <\/p>\n There are other familiar names helping out with Team USA during training camp. Former BYU coach, and current Kentucky coach, Mark Pope<\/a> is helping with on-court instruction. Alabama coach Nate Oats, who beat BYU in the Sweet 16,<\/a> is there. And North Carolina coach Hubert Davis, who will see Dybantsa in a scrimmage at the Delta Center in a few months, is instructing. <\/p>\n You can watch Dybantsa and the U.S. in group play on June 28, 29 and July 1 in the morning hours. The tipoffs are scheduled for 9:15 a.m., noon and 9:15 a.m. MDT, respectively.<\/p>\n The games will be available to stream on YouTube.<\/p>\n The Big Thing <\/p>\n (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Prep’s AJ Dybantsa (3) brings the ball down the court during the Grind Session Semifinals at Highland High School in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 15, 2025.<\/p>\n Speaking of Dybantsa in the Big 12, we know which conference road trips <\/a>the Cougars will take next season.<\/p>\n The top prospect in college basketball is heading to Allen Fieldhouse to play Kansas. He\u2019ll also be on the road at the McKale Center at Arizona and in Lubbock against Texas Tech, two of the tougher environments in the league. <\/p>\n There were some missed opportunities, though. Kansas won\u2019t make the return trip to Provo this year, meaning Dybantsa will only see fellow top prospect Darryn Peterson once in the regular season. <\/a><\/p>\n BYU also won\u2019t go on the road to Iowa State, another top venue in the Big 12. <\/p>\n But the good news is BYU will play Utah, Texas Tech and Arizona twice over the 18 game schedule, six high-quality games. <\/p>\n Fourth down <\/p>\n 1. What comes next?<\/a><\/p>\n We talked to several legal experts to discuss the questions facing BYU with quarterback Jake Retzlaff\u2019s situation still unsettled. <\/p>\n 2. The Baker rule <\/a><\/p>\n An NCAA rule change was inspired by Dawson Baker\u2019s ejection in the NCAA Tournament last year.<\/p>\n 3. Drew talks<\/a><\/p>\n Scott Drew gave his thoughts on losing transfer Rob Wright to BYU.<\/p>\n