Dybantsa's Breakout Season: The Next Durant?

0:00On March 19, BYU freshman AJ DeBonza had a breakout first college season, leading the nation and scoring with 25.3 points per. Gain, his stats stack up closely to Kevin Durant's legendary freshman year at Texas back in 2007, where Durant averaged 25.8 points. Both played around 35 games, logged over 34 minutes each, and shot efficiently from the field and free throw line. DeBonza even edged out Durant in the Big 12 tournament, scoring 93 points to Durant's 92 record. That came in a quarter-final loss to Houston, where he drained a late three-pointer to seal the mark. His play helped BYU reach the tournament for a third straight year. Fans and scouts love the comparisons, with DeBonza calling Durant his all-time favorite for making scoring look effortless. As a kid, he was hooked on Durant's smooth moves, just a couple dribbles to his spot. He even worked out together recently, pushing DeBonza to sharpen his shot under pressure.

1:00While their numbers align, their styles differ. Durant was a three-level scorer with elite shooting and ball-handling at 7 feet tall, plus strong defense. DeBonza shines as a quick wing attacker, with crafty finishes at the rim, though he's still building consistency on the perimeter and defensively. A top two draft pick this year, DeBonza's rise keeps the basketball world buzzing about the next big thing.