AJ Dybantsa selected first overall by Washington Wizards in 2026 NBA draft
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AJ Dybantsa arrives for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
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Prospective draftees pose for a group photo with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, centre, before the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki lwamura)
AJ Dybantsa, one of the most highly touted basketball prospects in recent years, who is of Jamaican heritage, was today selected first overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2026 NBA Draft in New York.
The 6-foot-9 forward, whose mother is Jamaican, enters the NBA after a standout freshman season at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he emerged as the nation's leading scorer and established himself as the consensus top prospect in this year's draft class.
Dybantsa's father is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Dybantsa acknowledged his dual heritage during an interview on The Breakfast Club on Tuesday morning.
He has often spoken about his commitment to giving back to communities in both Jamaica and the Congo.
The selection marks the beginning of a new era for the rebuilding Washington Wizards, who are banking on Dybantsa's scoring ability, athleticism and versatility to help transform the franchise into a contender.
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