The Big 12 Conference announced its top honor for the 2025‑26 athletic year, naming AJ Dybantsa of BYU as Male Athlete of the Year. The award recognized a season in which he topped the nation with 25.5 points per game, a performance that helped the Cougars clinch a historic three‑peat in the league.
A Record‑Breaking Campaign
Dybantsa’s scoring prowess marked the first time a Cougars athlete from any sport has earned the Big 12’s Male Athlete of the Year distinction. His 25.5‑point average not only secured the conference’s top individual accolade but also positioned him as the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.
A New Look for Washington
After being selected by the Washington Wizards, Dybantsa will attempt to reverse a franchise drought that has stretched since the 1978 championship. The team, long regarded as one of the league’s most underperforming clubs, hopes his arrival can spark a turnaround that ends a 48‑year titleless stretch.
Historic Firsts on the Horizon
The conference also recognized Olivia Miles of the Big 12’s female athletes, naming her Female Athlete of the Year after she was drafted second overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2026 WNBA Draft. This marks the first occasion in which both conference honorees have been basketball players, underscoring the sport’s growing prominence across genders.
A 16‑member media panel evaluated each school’s nominated male and female athletes, ensuring that the selections reflected both on‑court impact and broader contributions to college athletics. BYU’s consistent representation in the award ceremony highlights the program’s sustained excellence since joining the conference in 2023.
Beyond individual accolades, the recognitions signal a shifting landscape in collegiate sports, where standout performances are increasingly translating into high‑profile professional opportunities. Dybantsa’s move to Washington and Miles’s entry into the WNBA illustrate how current collegiate stars are poised to reshape the next generation of professional basketball.