BYU Star Dybantsa Embraces Heavy Workload, Unfazed by Draft Rival's Availability Issues

Freshman sensation AJ Dybantsa has no problem playing 40 minutes per game, unlike presumed No. 1 pick Darryn Peterson.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 2:19pm

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BYU basketball star freshman AJ Dybantsa has no issues staying on the court, in contrast to Darryn Peterson, the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, who has missed 11 games and pulled himself out of games for Kansas. Dybantsa 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 40 minutes played.

Why it matters

Dybantsa and Peterson are the headliners of a super-talented freshman class that should dominate the summer's draft. NBA scouts will be closely watching how much they value availability and whether Peterson can calm any fears teams may have about his tendency to miss games and pull himself out of action.

The details

Dybantsa has averaged 40.5 minutes over his past four games, including an overtime win over Colorado. In comparison, Peterson is averaging 27.2 minutes per game for Kansas. 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.

  • On Saturday, Feb. 21, Dybantsa led BYU to a 79-69 upset win over Iowa State.
  • Over his past four games, Dybantsa has averaged 40.5 minutes played.

The players

AJ Dybantsa

A freshman basketball star at BYU who has no issues staying on the court, in contrast to his rival for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Darryn Peterson.

Darryn Peterson

The presumed No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, who has missed 11 games and pulled himself out of games in the second half for Kansas, causing concerns about his availability.

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What they’re saying

“If they need me to play 40 minutes, I'll play 40 minutes.”

— AJ Dybantsa, BYU Basketball Star

The takeaway

This case highlights the contrasting approaches of two of college basketball's top prospects, with Dybantsa embracing a heavy workload and Peterson's availability issues raising questions about his readiness for the NBA. NBA scouts will be closely watching how these players perform and whether Dybantsa's durability gives him an edge over Peterson in the upcoming draft.