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We are in for a generational draft class. The overwhelming top three favorites are Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson. “All three look like guys who could be All-Stars quickly in the NBA,” a high-ranking executive told The Athletic. As the top three freshmen in the country, they are also vying for the NABC Freshman of the Year. However, for AJ Dybantsa, that award is a lot more significant. If Dybantsa overcomes Boozer and Peterson in that race, he will become the first NABC Freshman of the Year in BYU history. He is already the highest-ranked recruit in the history of the program with the biggest opportunity to snag that award. However, the fact that BYU is a better overall offense as compared to Peterson’s Kansas puts him at a disadvantage, according to Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. “Dybantsa has got multiple other dudes who are gonna score, and I’m not sure Kansas does. Like, Kansas might really like Darryn Peterson could have the highest usage rate in the country, and I might be overstating that, but it’s going to it could be up there pretty high,” Parrish said on “Eye On College Basketball”, “Whereas Richie Saunders is going to score. Rob Wright is going to have the ball in his hands a lot. So that to me, if you’re just looking for numbers, Peterson might end up with the better numbers because he might need to for Kansas to be what Kansas is going to be.” ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad According to the stat projections from Sports Illustrated, Peterson is expected to average 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game, while only two others are expected to average in the double digits (Tre White, Melvin Council Junior). Whereas BYU has a more well-rounded offense, as Rob Wright and Richie Saunders are coming off a season, averaging 11.5 points and 16.5 points per game, respectively. More importantly, Dybantsa does not want to be the one dominating the stat lines. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad “On the offensive side, I can do a little bit of everything. I think I can score at all three levels. But I think my playmaking is one of the more underrated parts of my game. I can get to the paint and make (good) decisions,” Dybantsa said. “With our offense and our four-out (attack), I can get to the paint, throw lobs to Keba or spray it out to Richie or Rob for some 3s.” On the other hand, Bill Self praised Darryn Peterson’s versatility. “I think he can be whatever the situation calls him to be. Could he be our best defender? He could. Could he be our best shot blocker? Absolutely. Could he be our best quick-hands guy? Yeah, he could be. Could he be your best scorer, your best shooter, your best handler, your best off-ball screener? He could be,” Self said. He did not outright say he is depending on Peterson. But you get the sense from how the team is constructed that he might have to bear the brunt of the offensive load. So, it could be one of the reasons that Peterson’s numbers look better for the NABC and in the NBA Scouting Reports. Dybantsa has more scope to become more of a team player than Darryn Peterson. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad AJ Dybantsa’s Cougars Have Nationally Elite Offensive Heat Like we discussed, Dybantsa, Saunders, and Wright have the potential to form a scary trio, but can they be among the best nationally? Matt Norlander certainly thinks so. “I do think BYU should be, if it goes the way they want it to, a top-five must-see offensive unit in the country because they have the pieces to be able to throw up 85, 90, 95 on a given night. We see if they can do that right away, if it’s going to take them a little bit of time to get in there,” He said. And that prediction goes beyond just the individual quality of the three, along with the rest of the team. It also has to do with Young’s offensive philosophy. Young has the “rim and three” offensive philosophy that partly existed at BYU. Young wants his squad to shoot the long-range shot if it’s open, or attack the rim. “The skill set of being able to shoot 3s off the dribble is the next generation and wave of NBA play. If you can do that, that’s one of the most potent skills to stop in the league,” He said last year.
