AJ Dybantsa reaches the limits of NIL

Rumors surrounding rising superstar AJ Dybantsa's potential NIL deal suggest the coveted recruit could push NIL payouts to new heights. Many speculate that the potential top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft could receive up to $4.5 million from a Big 12 program.

Dybantsa — ranked No. 1 according to 247Sports Rankings and other composite rankings — has expressed interest in Alabama, BYU, Kansas, Kansas State, Baylor and North Carolina. On3 reports that his father Ace is the “frontrunner” for a recruiting package that could start at $3 million and go as high as $4 million, with a source close to BYU telling the outlet that “4 to $4.5 million is what they want.” are willing to pay.

Dybantsa is represented by Leonard Armato, who previously represented Shaquille O'Neal and Oscar De La Hoya. However, his father has made it clear that his son is unaware of possible zero-money situations – and that he prefers it that way.

“In fact, AJ doesn’t know how much NIL they are offering him,” Ace Dybantsa told On3. “My wife and I decided not to tell him because we don’t want money to play a role in where he wants to go. … Our advisor, he takes care of the money for us. To give you an example, let's say he chose South Carolina, which they offered. They have $5 million on the table and Kentucky comes in, Kentucky has $3 million. AJ wants to go to Kentucky – he’s going to Kentucky.”

Despite the elder Dybantsa's claim, sources close to Auburn and USC have told the medium that their schools are no longer in contention because they simply don't have enough money to recruit him.

“I know the father was pushing for numbers like that from the beginning,” a source told On3. “He was pushing for $3 million when we were involved. The father basically said from the beginning that it would go to the highest bidder.”

However, money isn't the only thing that should drive AJ Dybantsa – or any other athlete competing for a NIL deal. From a business perspective, the elder Dybantsa is absolutely right to negotiate as high a payout as possible for his son. But there are other factors that could impact Dybantsa's future, and these should be important despite the huge amounts of money being discussed.

NIL first became a way for college athletes to get paid in 2021 when the NCAA implemented the first transition policy. Since then, the concept of NIL has gained widespread acceptance in college athletics, with the NCAA Board of Governors and Division I members adopting a new policy in August 2024 that—among other benefits, including increased mental health resources—” “provides more opportunities for student-athletes to receive assistance in arranging NIL contracts,” suggesting that the NCAA not only accepts these contracts as part of the college athletics experience, but also actively promotes them among new players.

“The NCAA is making changes to provide student-athletes with greater benefits for their academic success, health and well-being,” said NCAA President Charlie Baker. “Today’s progress was made possible because DI members committed to these investments and student-athlete leaders took ownership of these long-overdue changes.”

But a NIL deal isn’t just about “name, image and likeness.” While there are certainly legitimate criticisms of the program — including the unequal distribution of funds among college athletes — there are also many net positives that go beyond the initial hefty payout.

For example, NIL deals allow student-athletes to build their brands. Like it or not, today's athletes can't just be “good at the ball” – they need to be in business for themselves and develop a public persona. This comprehensive business approach allows athletes like Dybantsa to also connect with fans, particularly through building a social media presence funded in part by the NIL's initial dollars.

However, a potential blind spot of NIL contracts is the lack of guaranteed education for student-athletes entering into such contracts. A combination of school policies and state laws determine the types of offers athletes can enter into, meaning there is no regulating agency for these types of offers. Some schools require student-athletes to receive business counseling and/or business training before signing contracts, and some schools prohibit student-athletes from signing certain NIL contracts (for example, alcohol is typically off-limits in NIL contracts). for perhaps obvious reasons).

So, while athletes like Dybantsa may If they learn to invest their money wisely and make appropriate deals, there is no guarantee that they will do so… and the consequences of that failure, as countless professional athletes have shown time and time again, can be devastating.

In the long term, NIL deals allow athletes like Dybantsa to prepare for a career off the field. No athlete can play forever. What do they do afterwards? Whether they become coaches, all-round entertainers (à la Shaq), commentators, or simply retire from the sport altogether, NIL gives them the freedom and opportunity to do so.

Dybantsa's talent on the pitch is undeniable and there is no question that he should accept the NIL deal that best serves his short- and long-term goals. But money shouldn't be the only deciding factor in his decision, regardless of the best intentions of those advising him to do so.