The Washington Wizards made their selection at the top of the NBA draft Tuesday evening, choosing BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick.
Washington passed on Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, who had a turbulent college season with the Jayhawks, opting instead for Dybantsa. Peterson didn’t wait long to hear his name called — the Utah Jazz grabbed him with the very next pick at No. 2 overall.
Standing 6-foot-9, Dybantsa dominated college basketball in his lone season, finishing as the nation’s top scorer at 25.5 points per game. Analysts expect him to contribute right away at the professional level.
Speaking on ESPN after being selected, Dybantsa expressed what the moment meant to him. “This means a lot,” he said. “It’s a stepping stone. Obviously, I have a lot more work to do.”
Tuesday’s selection marked the third time in franchise history that Washington has held the No. 1 overall pick. The team previously used that slot to draft Kwame Brown in 2001 and John Wall in 2010.
Dybantsa also made history for his program, becoming the first player from BYU ever to be taken first overall in the NBA draft.
