Chelsea Dybantsa & Ace Dybantsa - The Parents Behind BYU Star AJ Talk Family, Faith & Unselfishness

Y’s Guys welcomes Ace and Chelsea Dybantsa, parents of BYU basketball star AJ Dybantsa, for one of the most heartfelt and revealing conversations of the season. The interview focused not on highlights or rankings, but on family, trust, and values — and how two people from Africa and Jamaica raised a family in the Boston area, and ended up living in Provo, Utah. Ace described the past six months as “a full-time job,” managing travel, sponsors, and logistics so AJ can focus solely on basketball. Both parents emphasized how warmly BYU has embraced their family and how natural the transition has felt. Ace explained that BYU’s coaching staff — particularly Kevin Young — earned their trust early by being sincere and delivering on every promise. He shared the pivotal moment when AJ called NBA stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, both of whom strongly endorsed Coach Young’s development approach. That validation, combined with BYU’s professional-style system, sealed the decision. “I was a cop for 19 years,” Ace said. “I know sincerity when I see it — and he delivered.” The conversation turned personal as Ace and Chelsea discussed how they raised AJ to be unselfish, grounded, and generous, traits that now define his play on the court. Ace credited his own father for instilling a mindset of thinking about others first, while Chelsea emphasized that education remains non-negotiable, regardless of how long AJ stays in college. “A degree is something no one can ever take away from you,” she said — and AJ has promised to finish his. The interview ended with smiles, laughter, and “Five Questions,” covering everything from favorite movies and cereal to Christmas memories and AJ’s love for Spider-Man as a kid. Chelsea shared that AJ is “pretty goofy” around his sisters, while Ace reflected on watching his son take over at Madison Square Garden, a moment that nearly brought the family to tears. It was a powerful reminder that behind BYU’s biggest star is a family rooted in humility, gratitude, and perspective. #BYUBasketball #AJDybantsa #GoCougs #Ysguys #CougarNation #CollegeBasketball #BYUSports #FamilyValues #Big12Hoops Timestamps (approximate): 00:00 – Ace Dybantsa joins Y’s Guys; spotlight shifts to the parents 00:33 – Managing NIL, travel & shielding AJ from distractions 01:09 – What has surprised them most about BYU 02:02 – Kevin Young’s pitch & why Ace trusted him 03:26 – The moment AJ said, “I’m going to BYU” 04:23 – AJ calling Kevin Durant & Devin Booker about Coach Young 05:55 – Fitting in on campus & with teammates 06:30 – Leadership and unselfishness in AJ’s game 07:07 – How AJ was raised to think of others first 08:40 – When they realized AJ was special 10:51 – AJ taking over at Madison Square Garden 13:46 – What they hope AJ is remembered for 15:44 – Chelsea joins: adjusting to life in Utah 17:00 – Watching AJ play in a sold-out Marriott Center 19:08 – Education matters — AJ’s promise to finish his degree 21:15 – Five Questions: movies, music, cereal & Celtics 25:25 – Favorite BYU moments so far 27:31 – AJ’s favorite childhood gift: Spider-Man 28:32 – Closing reflections & gratitude