AJ Dybantsa Locks Up the No. 1 Spot on ESPN’s 2026 NBA Draft Big Board as Washington Holds the Top Pick
AJ Dybantsa has the inside track to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. ESPN’s latest big board has the BYU freshman locked in at the top spot, ahead of a loaded class that includes Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson. Washington won the lottery last week. They have the pick, the cap space, and the timing to land the player who is now the consensus favorite to go first.
Dybantsa was already considered one of the top prospects when he arrived at BYU. What sealed his case as the top pick was the way he finished the college season. He was the engine of the BYU offense, defended multiple positions, and showed the kind of two-way upside that NBA front offices fall in love with. Scouts have been on board with him for over a year. The combine confirmed everything they wanted to see.
The interesting part is who is right behind him. Cameron Boozer, the Duke freshman and son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, has been pushing hard for the No. 2 spot. Darryn Peterson, the Kansas freshman who declared at the last possible moment, is also in that mix. Caleb Wilson rounds out the consensus top four. Any of those three could end up going second depending on how the next four weeks play out.
The early entry deadline passed on April 24. Some players, like Boozer, waited until the final day to make their decision official. Others, like Arizona’s Brayden Burries, declared at the buzzer and are now navigating the workout circuit. The May 27 withdrawal deadline is the next major checkpoint, and that is when borderline first round picks have to decide whether to stay in the draft or head back to school for another year.
For the Washington Wizards, this is a massive moment. The franchise has been rebuilding for what feels like a decade, and the front office finally hit the lottery jackpot at the right time. Washington has young pieces, draft capital, and now the chance to add a foundational star at the top of the draft. Dybantsa would slot in perfectly next to the developmental core they have been building.
The Wizards have also been clear about their plan with Anthony Davis. They are holding him through the start of next season and waiting to trade him at the deadline once his value rebounds. That timing lines up nicely with adding a rookie like Dybantsa, who can develop in the first half of the season without the pressure of being the team’s first option.
The NBA Draft Combine in Chicago wrapped up last week. Dybantsa did not need to do much. His film, his measurements, and his college tape were already enough to keep him at the top of the board. What he did show was that he has the physical profile and the basketball IQ to anchor an NBA franchise. He measured well, moved well, and impressed in interviews.
The Draft itself takes place June 23-24. Two days. Two rounds. Sixty picks. The Wizards will be on the clock first. They have time to do their final homework, schedule their last private workouts with the top four prospects, and make a decision that will shape the franchise for the next decade.
The smart money says Dybantsa is the pick. He is the safest high-upside option in the class. He fits the timeline. He is the most polished offensive prospect, and his defensive ceiling is enormous. The Wizards have a chance to add the kind of player they have not had on their roster in years.
There is always the chance Washington gets creative. Trade rumors will start swirling the closer we get to draft night. Teams with a roster need at one of Dybantsa’s positions will offer packages. The Wizards have publicly indicated they want to draft and develop their own star, which suggests they will stand pat. But everyone in the league knows the pick is in play if the right offer comes in.
For now, the headline is simple. AJ Dybantsa is the No. 1 prospect. Washington is on the clock. The 2026 NBA Draft is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent memory, and the player at the top of the board is exactly the kind of franchise centerpiece the Wizards have been chasing for years.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
