AJ Dybantsa

2026 NBA Draft Lottery Context

The three teams with the best shot at drafting Dybantsa are the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets. All three hold the worst records in the league, each carrying approximately a 14.0% chance of winning the #1 pick and a 52.1% chance of landing in the top four, per the NBA’s official lottery probability table. The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery takes place on May 10, 2026.

Because all three top lottery teams could realistically land the first pick, the exact destination for Dybantsa won’t be known until lottery night. Use the Team Pick Sim to model any team’s pick distribution, or run the full Lottery Forecast to see projected order across 14 teams simultaneously.

Biography and Background

Dybantsa grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts and became one of the most talked-about high school prospects in the country before landing at BYU. He built that reputation first at St. Sebastian’s and then at Utah Prep, where the size, athleticism, and scoring package looked different from most players his age.

By the time he reached college, he already carried No. 1 pick buzz. At 6’8 1/2”, he moves more like a guard than a traditional forward, and that mix of size and self-creation is why the hype started so early.

College Career and Stats

As a freshman at BYU, Dybantsa immediately became the center of the offense. He scored at a high level against major-conference teams, carried real volume, and looked comfortable taking the hardest shots on the floor.

The headline moment was the 40-point Big 12 tournament game that broke the event scoring record. More important than the one explosion, though, was the overall pattern: BYU gave him a star workload, and he looked like he belonged in it.

Strengths

Dybantsa’s biggest strength is three-level shot creation. He can shoot over smaller defenders, get downhill off the bounce, and finish through contact once he gets a shoulder past his man. In transition he is even harder to deal with because the size-speed combination shows up immediately.

He also has more than just scorer instincts. There is enough passing feel there to project him as a secondary creator, and the length gives him real defensive upside if the focus stays steady.

Concerns and Development Areas

The main questions are about consistency, not talent. The jumper can run hot and cold, especially on difficult pull-ups, and the handle can get loose when he tries to force his way through traffic.

Teams will also keep watching the defensive focus. The tools are there. The question is how often the full version shows up over long stretches.

2026 NCAA Tournament

BYU’s tournament run ended in the first round on March 19, falling to Texas 79–71. Dybantsa still gave scouts a clear reminder of what he is: 35 points, 10 rebounds, and a heavy offensive burden on a night when BYU didn’t get much help around him.

The loss was disappointing, but the draft takeaway didn’t really change. He still looked like one of the most gifted offensive players in the class, and the pre-draft process is now the part that matters most.

View or run our 2026 NCAA Tournament Bracket Simulator ›