BYU’s AJ Dybantsa made history Tuesday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The freshman sensation became the No. 1 overall pick when the Washington Wizards called his name.
It was the first time a BYU basketball player was ever selected No. 1 overall, and the first player in program history drafted by the Wizards.
The journey for the superstar as top-ranked high school prospect in the country to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft is complete. Now the talented 19-year old takes his talents to Washington, giving the franchise a centerpiece for its rebuilding efforts.
Dybantsa was selected ahead of Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, who went No. 2 to the Utah Jazz, and Duke forward Cameron Boozer, who was picked No. 3 by the Memphis Grizzlies in one of the most anticipated draft classes in recent memory.
“Making the NBA has been a dream of mine since I was a young kid, so I can’t wait to get to work and start the journey,” Dybantsa told reporters afterwards.
The 6-foot-9 forward, a native of Brockton, Massachusetts, became the fourth player from a Big 12 school to go first overall, joining Cade Cunningham of Oklahoma State (2021), Andrew Wiggins of Kansas (2014) and Blake Griffin of Oklahoma (2009).
Dybantsa’s selection marks the culmination of a remarkable freshman season in which he established himself as one of college basketball’s most dominant offensive players. The 6-foot-9 forward led the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game, shooting 51% from the field while averaging 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He scored 894 points, the second-highest single-season total in BYU history and the third-most by a freshman in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history.
His performance earned him Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and consensus First Team All-American recognition. Dybantsa became just the third BYU player to receive the latter distinction, joining Danny Ainge and Jimmer Fredette. He also became the first player to lead the nation in scoring and be selected first overall since Purdue’s Glenn Robinson went No. 1 to Milwaukee in 1994.
A Historic Season In Provo
Dybantsa arrived at BYU as the nation’s top-ranked high school prospect after choosing the Cougars over North Carolina, Kansas, USC and Auburn. His decision to play for head coach Kevin Young was heavily influenced by the program’s NBA connections and its emphasis on preparing players for the professional level.
Young spent a decade coaching in the NBA, including serving as an associate head coach with the Phoenix Suns from 2021 to 2024, before taking over at BYU in April 2024. The Cougars added personnel with NBA experience, including a strength coach from the Milwaukee Bucks, a dietitian from the Suns and analytics staff with Phoenix ties.
“After they hired [coach] Kevin Young, they hired a strength coach from the Milwaukee Bucks, a dietitian from the Suns, analytics from the Suns,” Dybantsa said. “(Young) just started stacking prototypes around us and I wanted to learn in the best environment to prepare for the league and I think I got that from BYU.”
The investment paid off. Dybantsa scored in double figures in all 35 games of his collegiate career, recording 28 games with at least 20 points, eight with at least 30 and two with at least 40.
His most memorable regular-season performance came against rival Utah at the Marriott Center, where he poured in 43 points to set a BYU freshman scoring record. He later added another 40-point performance against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament.
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Dybantsa averaged 25.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists in conference play, earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big 12 honors. He also accomplished a rare feat in BYU and Big 12 history, becoming the only player in program history and one of just two players in conference history to record a 30-point triple-double. His 33-point, 10-rebound and 10-assist performance came against Eastern Washington.
Although BYU fell to Houston in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals, Dybantsa delivered a postseason stretch that helped cement his status as the draft’s top prospect. Across three games in three days, he scored 93 points, setting a Big 12 Championship scoring record and breaking Kevin Durant’s conference tournament scoring mark. His 40-point outing against Kansas State was a highlight of the run.
Young said Dybantsa’s development throughout the season was just as impressive as his scoring numbers.
“I thought his game really matured over the season,” Young said. “The game slowed down for him. He figured out how to attack all different kinds of defensive coverages. He would survey how teams were guarding him, make the right read and just carve teams up and pick teams apart and that’s what he did in the Big 12 tournament.”
Dybantsa’s performance helped continue the momentum Young has built in just two seasons at BYU, further strengthening the program’s reputation as a destination for NBA-caliber talent.
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A New Cornerstone For Washington
For the Wizards, the selection represents a significant opportunity to change the direction of a franchise that has struggled to find consistent success. Washington finished last season 17-65 and has not reached the playoffs since the 2020-21 season. Its last winning season came in 2017-18, when it finished 43-39.
The Wizards last held the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, when they selected John Wall, the same player who represented Washington at the NBA Draft Lottery in May, and helping to bring the franchise good fortune with the top pick.
Dybantsa met with only two teams during the pre-draft process: Washington and Utah, which held the No. 2 pick. The Wizards ultimately chose the versatile forward, whose size, scoring ability and playmaking potential give them a foundational player to build around.
He is expected to join a Washington backcourt featuring Trae Young, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 draft. Young reportedly plans to sign a four-year, $212 million contract to return to Washington, potentially pairing the established playmaker with the franchise’s newest star.
Dybantsa believes the two could complement one another.
“I feel like I could play with Trae (Young) in the backcourt really well,” Dybantsa said. “He’s a great facilitator and great point guard and we could play off each other for sure.”
Washington has already begun assembling a younger core, selecting Tre Johnson and Will Riley in last year’s draft. Adding Dybantsa gives the franchise another high-upside talent as it looks to build a team capable of competing in the Eastern Conference.
For BYU, the achievement is equally significant. Dybantsa’s selection puts the program on the national basketball map in a new way, delivering its first No. 1 overall pick and adding another milestone to the school’s growing list of NBA accomplishments.
For Dybantsa, the next chapter begins in Washington. After a record-setting season in Provo, the former Cougar will now take his scoring touch, versatility and competitive edge to the NBA, with the expectations that come with being the top pick in the draft.
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