AJ Dybantsa projected as top pick in NBA draft, likely to join Washington Wizards

AJ Dybantsa, a 19-year-old forward from Brigham Young University, is widely projected to be chosen early in the NBA draft on Tuesday night in Brooklyn. The Washington Wizards, who hold the first overall selection, are the leading candidates to select him, though the Utah Jazz could receive him with the second pick if Washington chooses another player.

During his freshman season at BYU, Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 51 percent from the field. He set multiple school records and earned first-team All-American honors, joining former BYU All-Americans Danny Ainge and Jimmer Fredette.

Analysts note that Dybantsa still has areas for improvement, including defensive play and three-point shooting, and that immediate team success is not guaranteed. Nonetheless, his scoring ability and size make him a highly regarded prospect in a draft class considered deep.

"Dybantsa just has too much potential to become the kind of star the Wizards haven’t had around here since Chris Webber’s brief tenure in D.C.," wrote analyst David Aldridge.

If selected by Washington, Dybantsa would join a franchise that has not reached the conference finals since 1979 and could become a central piece in a rebuilding effort. Should the Jazz acquire him, he would remain in Utah, where fans hope his presence could help the team contend for its first NBA title.

Regardless of the team that drafts him, Dybantsa’s selection will mark the culmination of a multi-year journey that included moves from Massachusetts to California and Utah, and a decision to play for BYU over more traditional basketball powerhouses.