AJ Dybantsa pushes the boundaries of NIL

Rumors surrounding rising superstar AJ Dybantsa’s potential NIL deal indicate that the coveted recruit could take NIL payouts to new heights. Many are speculating that a potential top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft could receive as much as $4.5 million from the Big 12 program.

Dybantsa – ranked No. 1 in the 247Sports Rankings and other aggregate rankings – has expressed interest in Alabama, BYU, Kansas, Kansas State, Baylor and North Carolina. He3 reports that his father, Ace, is the “point man” of a recruiting package that could start at $3 million and go as high as $4 million, with a source close to BYU claiming that “between $4 million and $4.5 million they 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 potential situations involving NIL money – and prefers it that way.

“Actually, AJ doesn’t know how much NIL is offering him,” Ace Dybantsa told On3. “My wife and I decided not to tell him because we don’t want money to influence where he wants to go. … Our advisor is the one who manages our 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 claims, sources close to Auburn and USC have told the outlet that their schools are no longer in contention because they simply do not have enough money to hire him.

“I know dad was pushing these numbers from the beginning,” a source told On3. “When we were together, he insisted on $3 million. “Dad basically said from the very beginning that he would choose the highest bidder.”

However, money is not the only thing that should motivate AJ Dybantsa – or any other athlete seeking an NIL contract. From a business standpoint, the elder Dybantsa is absolutely right to negotiate the highest possible paycheck for his son. However, there are other factors that could impact Dybantsa’s future and they should come into play despite discussions about huge sums of money.

NIL first became a way for college athletes to earn money in 2021 when first transitional policy was implemented by the NCAA. Since then, the NIL concept has gained far-reaching acceptance in college athletics, among members of the NCAA Board of Governors and members of Division I adopting a new policy in August 2024, which, among other benefits including increased mental health resources, provides “increased opportunities for student-athletes to obtain assistance in entering into NIL agreements,” suggesting that the NCAA accepts these agreements not only as inherent part of the college sports experience but actively encouraging it among new players.

“The NCAA is making changes to provide student-athletes with more benefits for their academic success and health and well-being,” said NCAA President Charlie Baker. “Today’s progress was made possible by the commitment of DI members to make these investments and by student-athlete leaders leading the charge for these long-overdue changes.”

But the NIL contract is not just about “name, image and likeness.” While there are certainly valid criticisms about the program – including the unfair distribution of funds among college athletes – there is also a lot of net positive feedback that goes beyond the initial high payout.

For example, NIL contracts allow student-athletes to build their brand. Like it or not, today’s athletes can’t just be “good at football” – they have to be in business for themselves and create an image that can be seen by the public. This broad approach to business allows athletes like Dybantsa to connect with fans, especially by building a social media presence, which is funded in part by seed dollars donated through NIL.

However, there is a potential weak point in the NIL transaction lack of guaranteed education for student-athletes signing such agreements. A combination of school rules and state laws govern the type of contracts athletes can enter into, which means there is no single regulatory body that governs these types of contracts. Some schools require student-athletes to receive business counseling and/or economics training before signing contracts, and some schools prevent student-athletes from signing certain NIL contracts (e.g., alcohol is usually not allowed in NIL contracts, for perhaps obvious reasons ).

So, while athletes like Dybants Power learn how to invest their money wisely and make the right business deals, there is no guarantee that they will do so… and the consequences of that failure, as countless professional athletes have demonstrated time and time again, can be devastating.

In the long term, NIL contracts allow athletes like Dybantsa to prepare for their careers off the field. No athlete can play forever. So what do they do next? Whether they decide to become coaches, become entertainers (a la Shaq) or commentators, or simply retire from sports altogether, NIL gives them the freedom and opportunity to do so.

Dybantsa’s talent on the pitch is undeniable and there is no doubt that he should accept a deal with NIL that best serves his short and long-term goals. However, money should not be the only factor in his decision, regardless of the best intentions of those advising him to do so.