Coach Brian Keefe’s Washington Wizards may elect to go another way with their first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, as the class is considered to be stacked. This year’s draft lottery determined that the Wizards will pick first. Since then, they have been linked to prefer BYU Cougars star AJ Dybantsa over the likes of Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson and Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer.
However, Dybantsa might not be fully in favor of becoming the first draft pick. Adam Finkelstein reported that Dybantsa’s preferred team would be the Jazz simply because of his affinity towards the city of Utah. Reportedly, the Wizards are also no longer guaranteed to draft Dybantsa, and may choose Peterson or Boozer for the first pick.
Up to this point, Dybantsa has spent most of his career in Utah. Despite being born in Brockton, Massachusetts, Dybantsa’s high school tenure began in Napa, California, and eventually moved to Herriman, Utah. For his final year in high school, Dybantsa played for Utah Prep Academy, now known as RSL Basketball Academy. From here, he went to BYU for his one-and-done stint in college, which is located in Provo, Utah.
The report further indicates that a high-profile NBA scout dismissed the certainty expressed during the draft lottery broadcast that Dybantsa was a lock for the Wizards at the first pick. The 2026 class has been hailed by onlookers as possessing the most talent in recent years. Given that Dybantsa has indicated he wants to stay in Utah, the Washington-based franchise can find another player of his stature willing to play for them.
Cameron Boozer’s father, Carlos, is an active member of the Utah Jazz front office
Duke Blue Devils star Cameron Boozer’s father, former NBA player Carlos Boozer, is actually an active member of the Utah Jazz front office.
The two-time All-Star with the Jazz currently resides as a staff member and scout, which may entail him persuading the team to pick his son. This may cause complications for Dybantsa, since he prefers to stay in Utah for his rookie year.
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