Even before making his college debut for the BYU Cougars, AJ Dybantsa is already driving attention among NBA teams looking to draft the 6-foot-9 star in 2026.
In the latest CBS Sports “way-too-early” 2026 NBA mock draft, published on July 2, 2025, analyst Garry Parrish places Dybantsa squarely at No. 1 overall, projecting the Washington Wizards as his landing spot. Parrish had a lot of praise for Dybantsa in his mock draft column, writing:
“Dybantsa has been an obvious contender to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft for years — and I’m putting him in the top spot despite the New England native having something less than an encouraging final season of high school basketball at Utah Prep. The 6’9″ wing is a dynamic shot-creator and shot-maker who has the look of a future scoring champ. He’ll have scouts on BYU’s campus all season.”
Parrish further predicted Kansas’ Darryn Peterson to go to the Utah Jazz at No. 2, Duke’s Cameron Boozer to the Atlanta Hawks at No. 3, Tennessee’s Nate Ament to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 4 and Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance to the Memphis Grizzlies to round out the top five picks.
While nothing is final at the moment, Dybantsa carries high upside with him and whether the Utah Prep standout delivers in his freshman season at BYU remains to be seen.
Why Washington Could Be the Ideal Fit For Projected No. 1 Pick AJ Dybantsa?
The Washington Wizards are going through a rebuilding phase as evidenced by their recent transactions in the offseason, including trading away point guard Jordan Poole. They are putting together a team for the future and AJ Dybantsa could fit in well.
Dybantsa already has experience with Team USA and on international stages, which includes a dominant showing at FIBA U19. Moreover, Dybantsa will be working under Kevin Young at BYU. Young, who has worked alongside top-tier NBA stars, including Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, could play a pivotal role in Dybantsa’s development.
At 6′9″ with a 7-foot wingspan, he’s expected to defend 1–4 and control the glass. According to a scouting report by Bleacher Report, he has the skills to create his own shots, has high release mechanics and can play in any position.
For the Wizards, Dybantsa will likely be used as a go-to scorer who can attack mismatches and stretch the floor, much like Durant.
However, for the Wizards and Dybantsa to come together a lot needs to happen. First of all, Dybantsa will need to prove his worth and live up to expectations during his freshman season.
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