As the college basketball season heats up, the NBA scouting world is already deep into its evaluations for the 2026 Draft - and the race for the No. 1 overall pick is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing in recent memory. Three names are dominating the conversation: AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darryn Peterson (Kansas), and Cameron Boozer (Duke). Each brings something unique to the table, but today, let’s zero in on Dybantsa - a player who’s not just rising up draft boards, but turning heads in front offices across the league.
At 6-foot-9, Dybantsa has the kind of physical profile NBA teams covet in a modern wing. He’s long, athletic, and fluid - but it’s the offensive versatility that really sets him apart.
Whether he’s slashing to the rim, creating off the bounce, or operating in transition, Dybantsa shows flashes of a player who could be a franchise cornerstone. He’s not just putting up numbers - he’s doing it with a level of poise and competitiveness that NBA scouts love.
That was especially evident in BYU’s comeback win over Clemson, where Dybantsa’s presence and decision-making under pressure stood out.
What makes him such a compelling prospect isn’t just the tools - it’s the mindset. He plays with a level of intensity and care that suggests he’s wired to be “the guy” on a big stage.
That’s not something you can teach. It’s something you look for when projecting whether a college star can handle the weight of being a franchise player at the next level.
Still, no prospect is perfect. For Dybantsa, the biggest question mark right now is the three-point shot.
He’s not yet a consistent threat from beyond the arc, and in today’s NBA, that’s a skill that can’t be optional for a top-tier wing. Defensively, the tools are there - length, quickness, instincts - but scouts are watching closely to see if he can put it all together and become a reliable two-way presence.
If he does, his ceiling is sky-high. And according to several NBA executives, he may already have the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft class.
Now, let’s talk about the Jazz - because this is where things get complicated.
Utah could use a player like Dybantsa. A young, high-upside wing with star potential?
That’s exactly the kind of talent the Jazz need to accelerate their rebuild. But the odds aren’t in their favor.
As of Thursday night, Utah holds just a 6% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick. Even a top-three selection isn’t likely, with an 81% chance they miss out on that tier altogether.
And it gets trickier. There’s nearly a 40% chance the Jazz could lose their first-round pick entirely - to the Oklahoma City Thunder, no less.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that’s trying to build through the draft. Meanwhile, the Thunder - who already have a loaded young core - also own the Clippers’ pick, which currently has a 36.3% chance of landing in the top three.
That’s the kind of draft capital that can swing a franchise’s future.
It’s no secret that Dybantsa has already made a strong impression in Utah. After the Jazz’s high-scoring loss to the Lakers on Thursday night at the Delta Center, BYU fans weren’t the only ones excited to see him. Jazz rookie Keyonte George was spotted greeting Dybantsa with a hug postgame - a small moment, but one that shows just how much buzz the young wing is generating around the league, and especially in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz may not be in the driver’s seat when it comes to landing Dybantsa, but make no mistake: he’s on their radar. And if the ping pong balls bounce the right way, Utah could find itself with a shot at a player who has the tools - and the mentality - to be a franchise-changing talent.
For now, it’s a waiting game. But as the draft draws closer, expect the spotlight on Dybantsa to only get brighter.