From TD Garden to BYU record, AJ Dybantsa Jr.’s standout year
Dybantsa’s freshman season included a BYU scoring record and a major disaster-relief effort
Before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, Anicet “AJ” Dybantsa Jr. spent a year proving he could handle more than basketball.
The Washington Wizards selected the Brockton, Mass., native first overall after a standout freshman season at BYU, but his impact extended well beyond the stat sheet.
When Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica, the birthplace of his mother, Chelsea Dybantsa, AJ helped launch a fundraising effort that raised more than $30,000 for disaster relief.
“When Hurricane Melissa hit, AJ came to me and said, ‘Dad, what can we do to help those folks over there?'” said his father, Anicet “Ace” Dybantsa.
On the court, Dybantsa delivered some of the most memorable performances of his young career. In November 2025 he returned home to TD Garden for a nationally televised game against UConn, scoring 25 points in front of family, friends and local supporters.
Weeks later, he set a BYU freshman scoring record with 43 points, surpassing a mark previously held by Celtics legend Danny Ainge.
“I didn’t plan on hitting 43,” Dybantsa said. “I was just hot.”
As his profile grew, so did his visibility across Massachusetts. He appeared with Gov. Maura Healey, participated in community events and became a role model for young athletes throughout the state.
Now, as he begins his NBA career in Washington, those closest to him say the same qualities that made him a top draft pick — leadership, humility and a commitment to helping others — remain central to who he is.