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"I just turned down half a million": $2.8 million NIL-valued AJ Dybantsa's father opens up about being approached by agents

Modified Dec 23, 2024 12:51 GMT

The No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2025, AJ Dybantsa, who is valued at $2.8 million in NIL deals (according to On3), made his commitment to the BYU Cougars on Dec. 10. Since then, Dybantsa has been involved in a lot of off-the-court action with media houses, podcasts, and interviews, including one with American TV personality Stephen A. Smith.

Recently, the 6-foot-9 small forward was accompanied by his father in a Q&A session on Andscape. He was asked questions about their relationship, his future and his NIL deals, among other topics. When the interviewer asked his father about handling NIL deals for AJ without an agent, he revealed that he had turned down half a million dollars.

"They call me all the time and I tell them I’m good … I use my favorite word, which is, ‘No.’ ‘Can we?’ ‘No, I’m good. If I need you, I will call you," said Ace Dybantsa.

He also talked about the value of the offers he received for his son:

"The first offer I got from an agent was half a million. I say, no thank you. The second one, he said, ‘I’ve got $200,000 cash. Make it $250[000].’ I looked at it, I said, ‘I just turned down half a million.’ So, I say I was very polite. I’m like, ‘Let me talk to my wife.’ I’ll get back to you. Never did."

Ace Dybantsa's advice to AJ Dybantsa

In the Q&A, his father also stated that he got an offer close to $1 million, but even rejected that. Furthermore, he also gave an advice to AJ Dybantsa:

"The third one, $900,000 to represent him. I’m like, ‘No.’ He said, ‘That’s almost a million dollars.’ ‘Why didn’t you just make it a cool million?’ What happen? I’m 56 years old. I was never a millionaire, not even once."

"He goes, ‘What’s your point?’ I said, ‘Well, if I waited 56 years, what is two more years? He just looked at me, shook his head and walked away.’ And I told [AJ] you are not for sale, so when they come to you, think about it."

Dybantsa signed a deal with Nike along with Jerzy Robinson on Jan. 17 and with Red Bull on Oct. 15. He sits at the first spot in high school basketball NIL rankings. In NIL 100 rankings, the Brockton, MA, native sits at the fifth spot below Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Arch Manning and Livvy Dunne.

He will join Xavion Staton and Chamberlain Burgess from the 2025 Class at BYU next season.