As the much-anticipated 2026 NBA Draft nears, no other prospect has dominated the headlines more than AJ Dybantsa. Long regarded as arguably the most talented player in a talented draft class, Dybantsa has spent the past season at BYU showing why he deserves to be the league’s next No. 1 pick.
With his combination of size, athleticism and versatility on both ends, many are convinced that the Washington Wizards are going to pick him as the No. 1 overall pick over the likes of Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer. And it’s easy to see why.
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The Wizards have accumulated a litany of young talent over the past few seasons and have also bolstered their youth with proven stars such as Trae Young and Anthony Davis. The only thing really left is that one generational talent that can become the face of the franchise, and speaking on the Gil’s Arena podcast, Dybantsa lists the reasons why he can be exactly that.
Versatility and marketability
Dyabntsa outlines his case very clearly, starting with his defensive versatility. At 6’9” and 200 lbs, the BYU star freshman has one of the better upside defensively in his whole class. He showed all season that, besides his scoring abilities, he is also capable of impacting games on the defensive end.
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AJ’s athletic tools can make him operate as a wing and defend the opposing frontcourt, but he can also be relied on to switch onto the big man when needed. This is why many people compare him to the kind of oversized wings like OG Anunoby and RJ Barrett in today’s game. But despite this, Dybants is aware of his limits.
“I’m super versatile as a player. I think I can guard one through four. I said one through four until I got in an interview. I’m not going to say the team, but in like the NBA, you’re going to have to switch one through five. You’re going to have to guard a Wemby, Jokic on a play. So I’m going to say that I can guard one through five,” he stated.
“(But) Playing one through five is tough, playing the five-man is a little shaky. But I think I can play one through four,” added Dybantsa.
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Beyond his physical tools, he also emphasized his playing style that caters especially to the Wizards. Now, AJ’s comments may sound like pandering to the team with the No. 1 pick, but throughout the college basketball season, he has proved he can rely on his teammates when defenses are keyed on him.
The freshman led the whole nation in points per game after scoring 25.5 while also racking up 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. And with a BYU team that also boasted the likes of Robert Wright III and Richie Saunders, Dybantsa showed trust in his teammates despite the pressure of having to show out every night.
“I play the game the right way, I try to get wins, to get everybody involved. I like everybody eating,” Dybantsa said. “I’m an exciting player, I have a lot of highlight plays. I fill seats. So it’s a little bit of everything.”
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Dybantsa’s confidence to become the future face of a franchise speaks directly to the Wizards, who have notoriously been stuck in irrelevancy for years now because they really don’t have a proper superstar. His hype has already exceeded that of many of his peers in his draft class, but AJ believes he can take it to another level in the league.
A future franchise star?
The reality is that Washington, with all its assets, is not only looking for a player who can realistically score 25 points per game, just like Dybantsa did in college. They are also searching for a prospect that can finally become the face of their winning culture since John Wall.
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On paper, AJ already has the tools to succeed in the league. But in reality, though, there is a lot of work needed. What’s clear, however, is that he is the consensus No. 1 overall pick, and whether the Wizards or any other team drafts him, fans will most likely be tuning in to see if he’s everything he said he truly is.
Related: AJ Dybantsa details his insane pre-Draft workout schedule: “It has been tough”
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.