Things have just taken an unexpected turn in Provo! After a dominating game against the Villanova Wildcats, AJ Dybantsa has been the talk of the town, dropping the most points (21) and assists (3) in the game. With the team all set to lock horns with the Holy Cross Crusaders, Dybantsa has once again made it to the headlines, but this time, for all the wrong reasons.

According to reports, the 18-year-old forward violated BYU’s Church Educational System (CES) Honor Code by using profanity during team practice earlier today, prompting the school to immediately act on the breach and suspend Dybantsa for the first half of the upcoming game.

While the absence of the No. 1 player in the class of 2025, even for just the first half of the game, could have a serious impact on the outcome, it’s worth noting that in BYU’s season opener win, AJ Dybantsa led the Cougars with 9-of-18 shooting from the field. However, there hasn’t been any official confirmation from the school regarding the alleged incident or suspension yet.

The CES Honor Code at BYU governs more than just on-court behavior. It spells out standards of language, lifestyle, dress, grooming, and even off-campus choices, which apply equally to athletes, regardless of playing time or status. Importantly, the Honor Code Office states that students are “presumed to NOT be in violation” until investigation, and many cases result in warnings or probation rather than separation.

Historically, BYU athletes have faced serious consequences: in 2011, forward Brandon Davies was dismissed from the team for an honor-code violation involving premarital s*x, as per ESPN.

With BYU’s strict code of conduct leaving little room for error, if AJ Dybantsa has indeed crossed a line, it would be a firm no from the program. However, with no official confirmation from the school, fans will have to wait until game time to see whether the Cougars’ star freshman takes the court or not.

Ironically, just as questions swirl around his conduct, Dybantsa has also earned a spot on one of college basketball’s most notable preseason watch lists.

AJ Dybantsa earns Wayman Tisdale Preseason recognition

Despite the recent reported suspension, there’s no denying AJ Dybantsa has immense potential. The freshman was recently named to the 2025–26 Wayman Tisdale Award Preseason Watch List, which honors the nation’s top freshmen each year.

Since its inception in 1988-89, the award has celebrated college basketball’s most promising newcomers, and this year’s class has been hailed as one of the most competitive in recent history.

“The Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award could be in for a phenomenal race. In some years, finding 25 freshmen to fill out a Watch List at the start of the season proves a little difficult due to uncertainty with impact and playing time. Not this year. This is as loaded of a list as we’ve ever had heading into a season. The USBWA is proud to reveal our first Watch List for 2025-26 and eager to see which newcomers show out and uplift the sport in the months to come,” USBWA President Matt Norlander of CBS Sports said.

AJ Dybantsa’s name on the list comes as no surprise after his spectacular collegiate debut, where he became only the fifth freshman in program history to score 20 or more points in their debut.

However, if the alleged suspension turns out to be true, do you think BYU made the right call by benching their star player? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section.