Report: BYU Basketball to Compete in 2025 Diamond Head Classic
BYU basketball is gearing up for the 2025-26 nonconference season, highlighted by the addition of No. 1 prospect AJ Dybantsa to the team.
In preparation for the upcoming season, the BYU Cougars have reportedly accepted an invitation to participate in the Diamond Head Classic, which will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii.
This news was reported by College Basketball Insider Jon Rothstein.
The Diamond Head Classic is an eight-team tournament that takes place early in the college basketball season. The tournament, which began in 2009, is traditionally held during the week of Christmas, but in 2025 it will take place during the Thanksgiving week.
The Big West Conference hosts the event, which is played at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, the home court of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.
Last year’s participating teams included host Hawaii, Charlotte, Charleston, Loyola Chicago, Murray State, Oakland, Oregon State, and Nebraska, the eventual tournament champions.
BYU’s most recent appearance in the Diamond Head Classic was in 2021. In that tournament, the Cougars defeated South Florida in the first round, lost to Vanderbilt in the semifinals, and secured third place with a win over Liberty.
While the full 2025 tournament field has yet to be finalized, BYU’s opponents will be announced in the coming months.
AJ Dybantsa Scores 35 Points and Grabs 15 Rebounds at MAIT
AJ Dybantsa and Utah Prep faced off against Sagemont Prep from Weston, Florida, on the first day of the MAIT tournament.
Utah Prep defeated Sagemont Prep, 82-79.
Dybantsa, the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the class of 2025, posted 35 points on 13-of-21 shooting in 32 minutes. The 6-foot-9 wing made 7-of-8 three-pointers and converted 80% of his 10 free throws.
In addition to his scoring, Dybantsa grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds, dished out five assists, and recorded three steals. His 15 rebounds were five more than Sagemont’s total of 20.
The top scorer for Sagemont was four-star Miami signee Matthew Able, who scored 39 points to keep his team competitive.
Other key contributors for Utah Prep were 2026 four-star Anthony Felesi and Washington signee JJ Mandaquit, both scoring 15 points.
BYU signee Xavion Staton played nine minutes off the bench, collecting five rebounds and blocking one shot.
Utah Prep will return to action tomorrow in the semifinals of the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament, where they will play CIA Bella Vista from Scottsdale, Arizona.
CIA Bella Vista defeated Riviera Prep 72-43 on Thursday. The Bears are led by recent Georgia Tech commit Mouhamed Sylla and uncommitted four-star recruit Jaion Pitt from the class of 2025.
The Utah Prep vs. CIA Bella Vista game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. (MST)/4 p.m. (EST).
Mitch Harper contributed to this report.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio.