The Washington Wizards have selected BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.
The selection culminates months of speculation over who would go first overall in one of the most anticipated drafts in NBA history. Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke forward Cameron Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson were widely projected as the top four prospects in the draft. But the decision for the Wizards was reported to have come down to Dybantsa or Peterson.
Ultimately, they chose Dybantsa, an athletic, two-way forward with superstar upside. The Wizards are hoping Dybantsa can elevate a promising core that features Anthony Davis and Trae Young in addition to rising third-year center Alex Sarr and second-year guard Tre Johnson, Washington’s lottery selections in the previous two drafts.
What Wizards get in Dybantsa
An athletic, 6-9 forward with a 7-foot wingspan, Dybantsa arrived at BYU last fall as an elite prospect and the No. 1 ranked recruit in his class. He did not disappoint in his single season with the Cougars.
A dynamic, multi-level scorer, Dybantsa led the nation as a freshman with 25.5 points per game while shooting 51% from the field and 33.1% from 3 on 4.2 attempts per game.
He’s not an elite 3-point shooter, but Dybantsa demonstrated at BYU that he’s plenty capable from long-distance. He has room to develop his shot as a floor-stretching forward who can play multiple positions and create his own shot from the perimeter, off the dribble or in the post.
Dybantsa’s game isn’t limited to scoring. He’s a strong rebounder and a talented and willing playmaker who averaged 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
Dybantsa wasn’t an All-Defensive selection in the Big 12, but he was impactful on that end of the floor. He possesses the size, athleticism, mobility and motor to develop into a high-level NBA defender who can guard multiple positions.
In short, there’s little not to like about Dybantsa’s NBA prospects. He projects to slot in as a multi-tooled offensive weapon from Day 1 and possesses the drive and upside to develop as a defender and a 3-point shooter. If he does, he projects as a multi-time All-NBA selection as a pro.
