The Washington Wizards placed the future of their franchise in the hands of AJ Dybantsa on draft night, selecting the Brigham Young University (BYU) superstar with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The historic call at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York made Dybantsa the first player in BYU history to be taken first overall, capping a spectacular one-year college run that turned him into the most coveted prospect in basketball.
Dybantsa led the nation in scoring in his lone season with the Cougars, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists across 35 games. His explosive scoring, long frame and polished offensive instincts made him the face of a draft class loaded with high-end talent.
“I have a lot more work to do,” Dybantsa, who was seated beside his sisters, said.
That work now begins in Washington, where the Wizards are desperate to rise from the wreckage of a 17-65 season, their worst in decades. The franchise has not reached the playoffs since 2021 and has not won an NBA championship since 1978.
But the mood in Washington has shifted sharply.
Dybantsa now joins a rebuilt core led by Trae Young and Anthony Davis, giving the Wizards a dramatic mix of star power, veteran presence and long-term promise. Young signed a four-year, $212 million extension just 24 hours before the draft, while Davis remains committed to the franchise’s push back toward relevance.
At 6-foot-9 with a seven-foot wingspan, Dybantsa brings the kind of athletic profile and scoring fire that can change a franchise’s direction. Scouts have compared his offensive gifts to Tracy McGrady, and Washington will now count on him to grow into the centerpiece of its next era.
The No. 1 selection was widely expected, but it was not without late intrigue. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson had also drawn strong support, with some evaluators viewing him as the more complete prospect.
Peterson ultimately went second overall to the Utah Jazz after averaging 20.2 points for Kansas in a freshman season shortened by injury and illness.
The Memphis Grizzlies used the third pick on Duke forward Cameron Boozer, the son of former NBA star Carlos Boozer. Boozer averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds for Duke and earned AP National Player of the Year honors.
The Chicago Bulls selected North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson fourth overall, adding one of the most athletic players in the class despite an injury-shortened college season.
Georgia Tech guard Keaton Wagler went fifth to the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Brooklyn Nets took Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. with the sixth pick after his late rise up draft boards.
The Sacramento Kings selected Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. seventh overall, bringing in one of the most dangerous scoring guards in the class. Acuff averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists in his lone season at Arkansas.
Houston guard Kingston Flemings went eighth to the Atlanta Hawks, followed by Michigan center Morez Johnson Jr. to the Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 in one of the night’s biggest surprises.
The Milwaukee Bucks completed the top 10 by selecting Arizona guard Brayden Burries, a two-way backcourt prospect who shot 39 percent from beyond the three-point arc.
The Golden State Warriors selected forward Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 11 and the Oklahoma City Thunder took 7-foot-3 Spanish center Aday Mara at No. 12.
It was a landmark night for national champions Michigan, who produced three in the draft with Johnson, Lendeborg and Mara.
But the night belonged to Dybantsa.
For BYU, it was history. For Washington, it was hope. For the Wizards’ long-suffering fan base, it was the first flash of a new and dangerous dream.