CHICAGO — The 2026 NBA Draft is still months away, but one prospect has already made his intentions crystal clear. AJ Dybantsa wants to be the No. 1 pick, and he's dressing for the part.
At the NBA Draft Combine, Dybantsa and fellow top prospect Darryn Peterson were placed on podiums just feet apart, with only combine backdrops separating them. But the contrast between the two couldn't have been more striking. Peterson arrived in the standard-issue sweatsuit worn by most prospects. Dybantsa, however, walked in wearing a sharp brown pinstripe suit.
It wasn't just a fashion statement. "My dad told me this is the first job interview of my life, so come professional, come in a suit," the BYU star explained. That mindset defines a player on a mission.
And Dybantsa has the game to back it up. The NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner put the league on notice during March Madness, dropping 35 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in BYU's lone tournament game. He followed that with a 40-point outburst against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament. Over his final 17 appearances, he averaged a staggering 28.8 points per game.
Perhaps most impressive? According to CBB Analytics, Dybantsa led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin. That's the kind of shot-creating ability that could instantly transform the Washington Wizards, who own the league's second-worst offense and hold the projected No. 1 pick.
But the race for the top spot isn't a solo act. Cameron Boozer, the Duke freshman who earned national collegiate player of the year honors, offers a different kind of appeal. While Dybantsa is a human highlight reel, Boozer brings consistency and versatility. NBA insider Jake Fischer reports that rival teams believe the 6-foot-9 forward would be the "preferred selection" for the Indiana Pacers at No. 2, citing his potential fit alongside Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac.
For Dybantsa, though, anything less than No. 1 isn't the goal. He's already dressed for the occasion, and his game is ready for the stage. The only question is which team will call his name first.