BYU Basketball Kicks Off 2025-26 Season with High Expectations and New Faces

Provo, Utah – BYU Basketball held its first practice of the 2025-26 season on Monday inside the Marriott Center Annex, marking the beginning of what many expect to be another epic run for the Cougars.

High Hopes and Fresh Faces

Ranked as high as a Top Five team, BYU basketball enters the new season with sky-high expectations, led by head coach Kevin Young, who aimed to establish the team’s identity during the first practice:

“Obviously, a totally different team. … Individually, get better. The team stuff is gonna come over time. Now we want to get our identity with this group of talent we assembled.”

AJ Dybantsa Joins BYU as No. 1 Recruit

The first practice also marked the official debut of No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa, who sported No. 23. The 6-foot-9 Brockton, Massachusetts native primarily wore No. 3 during his high school career.

Dybantsa, who recently launched his own YouTube channel, shared his excitement on Twitter:

Go subscribe to my new YouTube channel. 🔗 in bio

Richie Saunders Returns for Final Season

Pairing up with Dybantsa is none other than BYU star Richie Saunders, who announced his return for his final season with the program. The First Team All-Big 12 selection shunned the NBA draft process to lead the Cougars one last time.

New Additions Bolster Cougar Roster

Another notable new addition, four-star center Xavion Staton, has also joined the BYU family. The Las Vegas native, who wore No. 8 in practice, is one of the top rim protectors in the country for the class of 2025.

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