After the Washington Wizards secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Sunday, the focus shifted to one of the most anticipated draft classes in years. As NBA front offices and fan bases eagerly await the league’s newest talent infusion, BYU freshman wing AJ Dybantsa is starting to create separation as the potential No. 1 overall pick.

Dybantsa is a sizable favorite at multiple sportsbooks to be the first pick post-lottery despite a strong group of prospects joining him in the top five.

Following a stellar freshman season at BYU, Dybantsa, a dynamic wing, is -400 on DraftKings. Similarly, FanDuel lists Dybantsa at -500 to be taken first.

Leading Division I basketball in scoring in his only season with the Cougars, the 6-foot-9 Dybantsa looks like an enticing potential franchise cornerstone. A consistent force with the Cougars, Dybantsa owns a developed scoring package, physical two-way versatility and untapped skill potential.

Separating himself from the pack of potential No. 1 picks during the second half of the college basketball season, Dybantsa made waves by averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for an NCAA Tournament team.

Washington or Utah?

Now that Washington is on the clock, Dybantsa to the Wizards makes a lot of sense from a team-building perspective. Washington traded for veterans Anthony Davis and Trae Young at the trade deadline this year. But the All-Star duo mostly stayed on the sidelines recovering from injuries as Washington played developing talent down the stretch.

The healthy return of Davis and Young, coupled with the arrival of the 2026 No. 1 pick, gives the Wizards a massive influx of talent needed to push for their first playoff appearance since 2021. For a Washington franchise stuck in the basement for most of the last decade, a new trio of stars could immediately jumpstart a dormant franchise. For what it’s worth, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has the BYU star going to Washington at No. 1 in his latest mock draft.

Another interesting wrinkle in Dybantsa’s case for top pick is that the Utah Jazz secured the No. 2 pick in the draft. Playing in the state of Utah during the last two basketball seasons, first at Utah Prep Academy for his final year of high school before attending BYU, Dybantsa would be a coup for the Jazz as a rare elite draft prospect with an in-state background.

Jazz executive Danny Ainge isn’t afraid of targeting particular players at the top of a draft and swinging a big trade. While leading the Boston Celtics, Ainge famously traded out of the top pick in 2017 down to No. 3. The Philadelphia 76ers selected Markelle Fultz as the top pick, with Boston landing future MVP Jayson Tatum at No. 3 — giving the Celtics a long contender window in the process.

Ainge would be playing the opposite role of his seismic 2017 trade by presumably trading up for Dybantsa in the 2026 draft. But Utah could be motivated to acquire the BYU star given his strong local connection and win-now focus.

According to a report from NBA Insider Jake Fischer, both the Wizards and Jazz are willing to listen to trade offers. Wizards president Michael Winger told Fischer that Washington will, “at least consider trading down” from the top pick, with the draft process still playing out over the next two months.

Regardless of whether the Wizards keep the pick or a trade is made, Dybantsa remains in a favorable position to go No. 1 at the end of June.

Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer still in the mix

Although Dybantsa holds the top odds for No. 1 pick, there’s a strong group of potential future All-Stars beyond him.

Kansas freshman shooting guard Darryn Peterson (+330 on DraftKings) and Duke freshman forward Cameron Boozer (+1600) are also considered very strong prospects who could alter a franchise’s trajectory.

Peterson has been viewed as a contender for the No. 1 pick, but an up-and-down freshman season with cramping issues, unexplained injuries and inconsistent effort is part of the reason he dropped to second in the odds. Coming out of high school, Peterson was considered the best prospect by many recruiting analysts and NBA Draft reporters thanks to polished scoring moves and effortless range.

Peterson still possesses incredible upside and could eventually be the best player in the upcoming draft. But Dybantsa’s highly productive freshman season elevated his status while Peterson’s absences and strange early exits were a huge mid-season talking point.

The most acclaimed player in college basketball this season, Boozer dominated at Duke to become the fifth freshman to win the AP’s men’s national player of the year. Despite consistent numbers and mounting awards, some scouts say the 6-foot-10 Boozer lacks the elite athletic burst of Dybantsa and Peterson — which explains his status as the clear No. 3 in top-pick odds.

North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson is skyrocketing up draft boards, but he is currently a long shot to be taken first at +2800. Missing the end of the college basketball season with a broken hand, Wilson seems firmly entrenched in the top-five pick conversation but rarely gets placed in the same tier as Dybantsa, Peterson and Boozer.