FOX Sports host Aaron Torres believes the future of top prospects like AJ Dybantsa may soon be shaped as much by shoe companies as by the traditional path to the NBA.
On his podcast this week, Torres discussed Dybantsa’s recent comments about possibly remaining at BYU longer than expected. The freshman star told the Deseret News he has not completely ruled out staying in college, citing his mother’s encouragement to earn a degree.
“I might not leave college,” Dybantsa said in the interview. “My mom wants me to graduate.”
Torres believes there is a lot of bluffing and Dybantsa was somewhat joking. He expects the freshman phenom to declare for the 2026 NBA draft after the season. But he argued the conversation highlights a growing dynamic in modern college basketball. The potential influence of major apparel companies is there and just needs the right situation.
Dybantsa has produced one of the most dominant freshman seasons in the country, averaging 24.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and nearly four assists per game while leading the nation in scoring. He has also carried an injury-depleted BYU roster, often playing close to 40 minutes per game.
Despite BYU falling short of preseason expectations due to multiple season-ending injuries around him, Torres said Dybantsa’s individual performance has only strengthened his case as a potential No. 1 overall pick over Kansas' Darryn Peterson.
Torres added the larger story is the rapidly changing financial landscape surrounding elite players. With NIL opportunities now reaching eight-figure territory for some athletes, he believes companies such as Nike or Adidas could eventually prefer keeping a marketable star in college longer, where exposure can be greater.
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“If you’re Nike, you might look at it and say this player is more valuable to us at a major college brand than he is on a rebuilding NBA team,” Torres said.
National television exposure, rivalry games and the visibility of March Madness can provide a platform that some struggling NBA franchises cannot match right now.
Torres thinks Dybantsa is still widely expected to enter the draft. However, he believes the economics of NIL and shoe company partnerships could eventually convince a future superstar to remain in college basketball longer than the traditional one-and-done path.
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