AJ Divanza is likely to be a future No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft. Now we know where he will likely spend his first and only year of men's college basketball.
Divanza chose BYU over Alabama, North Carolina and Kansas State on Tuesday afternoon live on ESPN. He is ranked by multiple media outlets as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 class and is considered the current front-runner to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Divantha has the looks of a future NBA All-Star. Divanza is a 6'9 wing with a strong frame and long arms who is an explosive athlete who takes tough shots all over the floor. He is a tank getting to the basket with a quick first step and an amazing combination of leaping ability and body control around the basket. Divanza's driving ability is made even more effective by the fact that he is the most dangerous pull-up shooter in high school basketball with the skill and range to take shots from mid-range beyond the NBA arc.
It's hard to believe that a leading candidate would choose BYU over a blue blood like North Carolina or Kansas State or a recent powerhouse like Alabama, but this is the new world of the NIL. Divantha has already spent her final year of high school in Utah, transferring to Utah Prep, a challenging start-up program founded by BYU alumni. Divanza's family He reportedly received ownership of the high school along with a hefty NIL payment.. The young star started his high school career in Massachusetts before transferring to Prolific Prep in California.
BYU hasn't drafted a player in the NBA since Jimmer Fredette in 2011. The program hired former Phoenix Suns assistant coach Kevin Young ahead of this season after losing Mark Pope to Kentucky. Young quickly acquired Russian guard Egor Demin as a potential NBA lottery pick and Kannon Catchings as another potential first-rounder. The Cougars are off to a 6-2 start this year, their second season in the Big 12.
Jeff Goodman, college basketball official Divantha is estimated to earn $5 million on NIL One year at BYU.
The 2026 NBA Draft feels like a rare class with three legitimate No. 1 overall talents. DiVanza will have a lot of competition for the top pick with Cameron Boozer and Darrin Peterson. Boozer is a very high-IQ offensive hub in the frontcourt with a long history of winning at every level before committing to Duke. Peterson will head to Kansas State as a big guard with scoring tricks all over the floor. While the 2025 draft class is getting all the hype, 2026 looks even stronger.
Divantha turns 18 in January. BYU fans, enjoy watching him.
