If you’ve seen any of the NBA broadcasts, looked at social media, or been listening or reading sports news, you likely know by now that AJ Dybantsa has been the top-ranked player in his class – the HS class of 2025 – for years now, and he parlayed that status into being the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night.
“It’s super surreal. I’ve been No. 1 since ninth grade and I told myself and told the media I didn’t plan on dropping, and I didn’tl” Dybantsa told our JP Finlay in an exclusive interview shortly after being selected. “I’m super thankful to the organization for believing in me.”
Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger told the Junkies Tuesday night that the Wizards were ‘getting the guy we want, and we know he wants to be in DC,’ and GM Will Dawkins reiterated that Dybantsa was their guy all along when he joined The Junks Wednesday morning.
But, Dybantsa says, he found out he was going to be a Wizard the moment everyone else did, and no, the photo he posted of him and his dad standing in front of the White House wasn’t a spoiler, but merely a coincidence.
“I was going to post an original picture when I was a baby, but I was naked!” Dybantsa laughed. “I swiped and the next one was him holding me, so I posted it; once I realized it was the White House, it was already up there.”
He’s here now, and says the Wiz are getting a ‘super versatile but coachable’ player who will ‘do whatever coach needs,’ and he’s already heard from a handful of players. He’s also played against Will Riley and Tre Johnson on the amateur circuit, so he’ll be ready to hit the ground running when Summer League kicks off in a couple weeks.
The only question left is what number he will wear, and while Trae Young has Dybantsa’s BYU number 3 right now, you never know…
“I was on Gil (Arenas’) podcast so I know, but I’m gonna respect the vets,” Dybantsa smiled. “If he wants to give me the number, I’ll take it, but we’ll see how it unfolds.”
