AJ Dybantsa Jr.’s journey from Brockton to No. 1 NBA Draft pick
The Washington Wizards selected the former BYU standout with the first overall pick
Anicet “AJ” Dybantsa, Jr’s journey from Massachusetts basketball prodigy to the NBA’s biggest stage is complete.
The Brockton native was selected No. 1 overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2026 NBA Draft, capping a meteoric rise that took him from local gyms to becoming one of the most sought-after prospects in the country.
For those who know Dybantsa best, the moment is about more than basketball.
“I told him, you may be number one in the country, but in my house you’re number four,” his father, Anicet “Ace” Dybantsa, Sr. said during a 2025 Chronicle interview while AJ was still in high school.
Long before he became the top pick, Dybantsa was starring at St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, where coaches remember a player whose character matched his talent.
“The kid could have scored every single time,” assistant coach Trevor McLean said. “At the end of the day, it was just how good of a teammate and kid he was.”
After leading St. Sebastian’s to back-to-back championships, Dybantsa transferred to Utah Prep and emerged as the nation’s top high school recruit before committing to BYU.
His rise coincided with the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) era, bringing national endorsements and attention long before his professional debut. Through it all, family remained at the center. Ace retired from his career as a police officer to help manage his son’s growing schedule, while mother, Chelsea, and sisters Samarra and Jasmyn helped keep him grounded.
Now, the former Brockton standout becomes the latest Massachusetts athlete to reach the NBA’s highest level.
“It’s just great that an orange ball can take you literally anywhere,” Dybantsa said in 2025.
A year later, that journey has now taken him to Washington as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.