CHICAGO – AJ Dybantsa learned that the nation’s capital could very well be his future home when the Washington Wizards were awarded the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft on Sunday. But with Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson eyeing the No. 1 spot as well, it’s now on Dybantsa to prove he is worthy of being selected first in one of the deepest drafts in recent memory.
“I just saw Washington get No. 1 and obviously I’m striving to be the No. 1 pick,” Dybantsa told Andscape. “That has been my goal since I started playing basketball.”
Former Wizards star John Wall was representing his old franchise on stage at Navy Pier when it secured the No. 1 pick for the first time since he was selected in 2010. Washington, the Brooklyn Nets and the Indiana Pacers each had a 14% chance of landing the top selection.
Whoever the Wizards pick will join a roster expected to feature 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young (player option next season), rising star forward Alexandre Sarr and several other talented young players.
Dybantsa would love to wear a Wizards uniform and could very well get the opportunity.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo has the former BYU forward as the projected No. 1 pick for the Wizards after the lottery results were released. The 6-foot-9 19-year-old averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game as a true freshman last season.
Wizards president Michael Winger told reporters after the lottery that the team will consider several prospects for the No. 1 pick. Still, Dybantsa is widely considered the front-runner as of now.
“If I go there, it will be a great opportunity. They have a great young core,” Dybantsa said of Washington.
Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images
Woo projects the Utah Jazz will take Peterson with the No. 2 pick, but the former Kansas guard is also expected to be considered by Washington as well.
Peterson led Kansas in scoring, averaging 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24 games. While the 6-foot-6, 205-pounder was hampered by severe cramping issues, he said he hopes the controversy was cleared up after ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported last week that it was caused accidentally by taking high doses of creatine supplements.
“Everyone wants to compare me and DP [Peterson],” Dybantsa said. “He’s a great. Obviously, he has a chance to be the No. 1 pick. But I’m betting on myself.”
Woo sees the Memphis Grizzlies selecting Boozer with the third overall pick and the Chicago Bulls taking Wilson at No. 4. Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge also introduced himself to Wilson after the lottery, and Jazz guard Keyonte George hugged Peterson after ESPN’s draft lottery show concluded.
Said Peterson to Andscape: “I feel the basketball part will take care of itself. I know what everybody can do, but I feel like I can come in and be the best teammate I can be, give great effort every day, and be on time. We all can hoop. It’s going to be the stuff off the court. …
“I am a point guard. I’m the best when I have the ball in my hands. Off the court, I’m going to be the best pro.”
While Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Wilson are the consensus top four prospects of the class, predraft workouts, medical results, interviews, talent and potential will play a role in the final decisions for the top pick and beyond.
Wilson is perhaps the most athletic player in the draft with the highest ceiling. He missed the final nine games of North Carolina’s season with a pair of injuries — first a fracture in his left hand suffered Feb. 10, then with a broken right thumb suffered March 5.
The 6-foot-10, 215-pounder says he is healthy now, expects to play in summer league and has an improved jump shot.
When asked if he felt slept on, Wilson told Andscape, “For sure. But it always comes to light. I will prove it when I get to play again, and that will be summer league. I’m just waiting for the opportunity. I feel like I’m a versatile player, and I will change any franchise that will choose to draft me. Whoever feels I’m good enough to be a part of their program or wants me to be a part of it, I’ll be excited to be a part of it.”
Boozer is not only talented but is viewed as a pick who is ready to play immediately.
The consensus college basketball player of the year averaged team bests of 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game as a freshman at Duke last season. His father, former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, previously told Andscape that the Duke star is a “modern-day version” of Hall of Famer Tim Duncan and that “GMs that don’t pick Cam, they’re going to regret that 15 years from now.”
“Whether I go 1, 2 or 3 or whatever the case may be, I think winning and what I bring to the team, my resume, it shows for itself,” Cameron Boozer told Andscape. “If a team wants to hang a banner in the rafters, I’m definitely the guy.”
Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images
For NBA teams that weren’t so lucky in the draft lottery, there is a wealth of talent available after the perceived top 4.
One Eastern Conference executive told Andscape that there is enough talent for all 14 draft lottery teams to feel satisfied. This may be the best NBA draft since 2018, when the likes of Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr., Deandre Ayton, Wendell Carter Jr., Mikal Bridges, Miles Bridges and Michael Porter Jr. were all draft lottery selections.
One of those prospects that seemed stoic and motivated after the NBA draft lottery was former Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr.
The 2026 winner of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Bob Cousy Award, awarded to the top point guard in college basketball, averaged 23.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game on 44% from 3-point range as a freshman for Arkansas last season.
Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Calipari warned NBA teams to Andscape in March about Acuff, saying, “If you pass on him, you’ll regret it.”
Acuff is projected to be drafted sixth by the Brooklyn Nets by Woo. Acuff plans on proving he’s worthy of shaking up the draft by being selected higher.
“I just got to showcase my talent,” Acuff told Andscape about his upcoming team workouts. “I got to have the same mindset as playing [games]. Go out there and kill it. I know what it is. They will see, if they don’t. …
“Teams are going to get a dog. Winner. An alpha for sure. Everyone will know it for sure.”
The post From AJ Dybantsa to Darius Acuff Jr., NBA draft lottery talents make their case appeared first on Andscape.
