BROOKLYN, NY — The Washington Wizards used the first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to select BYU freshman forward AJ Dybantsa.
The 6-foot-9, 217-pound wing from Brockton, Massachusetts, walked across the Barclays Center stage Tuesday night in a custom suit and slipped on the red cap as Commissioner Adam Silver made it official. Dybantsa, who turned 19 in January, had been the consensus top prospect for months after a dominant one-and-done season.
As a true freshman at BYU, Dybantsa started all 35 games and averaged 34.8 minutes per game. He led the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game while adding 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 51.0 percent from the field, hit double figures in every outing, posted 28 games of 20-plus points and eight 30-point performances.
He dropped 43 points against Utah in January, breaking the BYU freshman single-game scoring record, and finished the year with 894 total points — third-most by any Division I freshman in history. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors and consensus first-team All-America recognition.
Scouts have long highlighted his rare combination of size, length and explosive athleticism, including a roughly 7-foot wingspan. He creates off the dribble at all three levels, finishes through contact at the rim with either hand and shows playmaking ability in transition and pick-and-roll situations. The tools project as a high-floor, high-ceiling two-way wing who can guard multiple positions and scale as a primary creator.
The Wizards had Dybantsa at the top of their board well before draft night. General manager Will Dawkins and the front office zeroed in after a standout pre-draft visit and workout. The pick fits directly into the core already in place, with Trae Young running the offense and Anthony Davis anchoring the frontcourt. After several lean seasons, Washington now has an immediate high-upside piece who can contribute right away while the young supporting cast continues to develop.
Dybantsa has the profile of a player who can impact winning from day one — versatile scoring, defensive range and the motor to play heavy minutes.
The Wizards’ timeline just moved forward.