Analyzing Brayden Burries, Jayden Bradley, and AJ Dybantsa in the Arizona-BYU Game
January 27th, 2026
By Alan Lu
Yesterday, I took the time to watch AJ Dybantsa and BYU play against Arizona, who is currently the top ranked team in the country. Arizona was in control for most of the game due to their strong guard play, but BYU made a furious comeback attempt to make things interesting. Nevertheless, Arizona managed to hold on to get a win, and Brayden Burries was able to get a clutch, game-saving block to help seal the victory for his team. Here are my thoughts on how Burries, Jaden Bradley, Dybantsa, Koa Peat, and other various prospects fared in this game.
(Photo: Chris Gardner/Getty Images, via Yahoo Sports)
Brayden Burries had a tremendous game in his team’s road win over BYU. He is an athletic, skilled guard that did a great job of making plays on both sides of the ball. Burries did a great job of scoring quickly off the dribble, and he also ran the floor to score on a dunk. He showed a knack for using his body to draw fouls upon his defenders to get to the free throw line. He also was effective at making threes, as he can do so both off the catch and dribble.
He also displayed decent playmaking skills. Burries was able to make a variety of passes, as he can make passes off the dribble as well as find teammates on the move to create scoring chances for his teammates. Sometimes he would force the issue too much, which led to some ball-handling turnovers.
He also did a good job of rebounding the basketball. Plus, he also defended well. Burries did a great job of intercepting passes to get steals, and he also rotated to block a key shot on a drive to a teammate. He did have a tendency to foul opponents on jump shots, but he mostly was very effective in making defensive plays.
In summary, Brayden Burries played great basketball, as he was excellent in all facets of the game. He is a very talented prospect that could be a solid scoring point guard at the NBA level, and he could be a lottery pick in the 2026 draft.
(Photo: Russell Lansford/Imagn Images, via SB Nation’s Arizona Desert Swarm)
Jaden Bradley also had a strong showing in his team’s win over BYU. He did a great job of shooting and scoring the basketball, and he is a very athletic playmaker that also defended very well in this game.
Bradley did a great job of making shots off the dribble, especially from the mid-range. He has good speed, footwork, and shooting touch, and he also was able to split a double team to knock down a pull-up jumper once. Plus, he also shot the three-ball well, as he can do so off the catch and dribble.
As a playmaker, he looked to be around average. He was great as a scorer with the ball in his hands, and he would sometimes find open teammates on the move to get some assists. However, he committed more turnovers than notched assists, and he would sometimes over-dribble or throw careless passes that would result in turnovers.
He also was able to get a few boards in this game to chip in on the glass. Bradley also defended really well. He did a great job of staying in front of opponents to cut off penetration, and he would jump passes and poke balls away to get steals and force turnovers.
Overall, Jaden Bradley played really well in his team’s win over BYU. He is a very athletic, score-first point guard that could excel in the NBA, and he would be a solid value pick, especially if he’s available to be selected in the late first round range in the 2026 draft.
(Photo: Rob Gray/Associated Press, via WJHL)
AJ Dybantsa had his ups and downs in his team’s tough loss to Arizona. After having a dominant, 43-point game in his team’s win over Utah on Saturday, Dybantsa didn’t shoot nearly as well in this game, as he struggled against Arizona’s tough defense, as he took a lot of tough shots, some of which he wasn’t able to draw foul calls, even though he still was able to get to the free throw line aplenty.
He mostly looked to score off the dribble, and he was most effective at using his body to draw fouls upon his defenders to get to the free throw line. He has a quick first step, and he can make shots in a variety of ways, and he can throw down some highlight reel-worthy dunks. However, he also tended to miss on tough shots in traffic, especially when he wouldn’t get foul calls, and while he showed an advanced ability to draw fouls, Dybantsa struggled significantly to make threes or outside shots in this game.
He also displayed satisfactory playmaking skills. Dybantsa can easily get his shots off, and he would find open shooters, as well as throw accurate passes off the dribble to set up plenty of scores for his teammates. Sometimes though, he would over-dribble or throw a sloppy pass, which would result in the occasional turnover.
Plus, he also was able to get a few boards when he was on the floor. He also played satisfactory defense. Dybantsa was able to quickly get his hands on a ball to get a steal, and he would use his length, athleticism, and timing to contest shots to force misses and get stops for his team. On one play though, he somehow got outmuscled when defending in the post, which led him to commit a foul that time.
In general, Dybantsa didn’t have his best game, but he still was able to make an impact by getting to the free throw line a ton to help his team offensively. He still did not shoot the ball well in this game, and he forced up a lot of very questionable shots. Still, he is a tremendous talent and a super athletic forward that has superstar potential at the NBA level.
Koa Peat had a solid showing in his team’s win over BYU. He is a strong, athletic forward that played well on both sides of the ball. He excelled at scoring off the dribble and out of the post, and he also made a shovel pass to notch an assist. He didn’t take or make a three-point shot, and would occasionally commit ball-handling turnovers, though.
Peat also was able to get a few boards in this game. He also defended fairly well. He would use his length to stay in front of opponents and contest and block shots to force misses. Sometimes though, he would play too aggressively and foul opponents on mid-range jump shots.
Overall, Koa Peat played fairly well in his team’s win over BYU. He’ll need to extend his shooting range and add a reliable outside shot to his arsenal, but he is a solid prospect that could be a first round pick in the 2026 draft.
Ivan Kharchenkov also played well in his team’s win over BYU. He is an athletic, high-motor forward that excelled at making hustle plays on both sides of the ball. He would frequently score off of cuts and in transition, and showed off a fairly solid dribble game. He also passed the ball well, as he could make passes off the dribble as well as find teammates on the move to set up plenty of scores for his teammates. He didn’t make a three-point shot, but he did everything else well on offense.
He also rebounded the ball fairly well. He also defended well. He would use his length, athleticism, and timing to contest and block shots to force misses, and he even blocked a three-point shot. He also poked a ball away to get a steal. Sometimes though he would allow opponents to get deep position when defending in the post, which would lead him to occasionally commit fouls and allow scores.
Overall, Kharchenkov had a strong showing in his team’s win over BYU. He is an athletic, energetic forward that will need to add a more consistent outside shot, but his ability to make plays on both sides of the ball could enable him to be a solid role player in the NBA.
Richie Saunders played well in his team’s loss to Arizona. He is mobile, skilled swingman that excelled as a shooter and scorer when he was on the floor. He did a good job of making quick threes off pindowns. He would also score on crafty drives, as well as out of the post, and on hustle plays.
He also was able to show that he can throw interior passes in this game. However, he tended to commit sloppy ball-handling turnovers, and he would sometimes telegraph his passes when he was on the floor.
Saunders did a great job of rebounding the basketball. He was active defensively, but he tended to commit reach-in fouls due to over-aggressiveness, and he would also get overpowered on drives to allow scores.
Overall, Saunders had a good showing in his team’s unfortunate loss to Arizona. He is a smart, skilled player that can make plays offensively as well as on the glass. He’ll need to improve defensively, but his solid blend of basketball IQ, offensive skills, and rebounding ability could enable him to be a solid role player in the NBA.
BYU’s 6-6 junior swingman, Kennard Davis Jr. played really well, and he had his best game in a long time. Hailing from St. Louis, Davis is a promising prospect that did a great job of making threes, as he showed deep range, a knack for making spot-up threes, and he also made a smooth, stepback three in this game.
He also showed some hustle to get rebounds and steals in this game. Overall, he is an athletic, 3 and D role player that could continue to project into that role at the NBA level. He’ll need to improve upon his shooting percentages, but he’s shown he can play that role when he is on the floor.
Tobe Awaka also played well in this game. He showed a knack for scoring on strong moves out of the post, as he has good strength, footwork, and scoring touch to do so. He also would drive to the basket and go up strong to draw fouls to frequently get to the free throw line.
Plus, he also rebounded the ball well. He was active defensively, and he can use his size to defend opponents off the dribble to contest shots and force some misses. However, he would sometimes struggle to defend quicker players, and he also would sometimes commit touch fouls due to over-aggressiveness.
Overall, Awaka had a solid showing in his team’s win over BYU. He is a strong, physical forward that can make plays on offense as well as on the boards, but will need to add a reliable outside shot to his arsenal and improve defensively. Still, he is a tough, tenacious player that could end up being an effective role player in the NBA.
Other Notes:
Check out this elite, 43-point performance that AJ Dybantsa dropped this past Saturday on January 24th in his team’s win over Utah.
(Source: X/@DraftExpress)
All in all, those are my thoughts on how Burries, Bradley, Dybantsa, and other various prospects fared in this game. Thanks for reading.