AJ Dybantsa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
AJ Dybantsa

Dybantsa in 2024
No. 1 – Washington Wizards
Small forward
Personal information
Born	(2007-01-29) January 29, 2007 (age 19) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
High school	Saint Sebastian's (Needham, Massachusetts) Prolific Prep (Napa, California) Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	217 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College	BYU (2025–2026)
NBA Draft	2026 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Washington Wizards
Pro career	2026–present
League	NBA
Career history
2026–present	Washington Wizards
Career highlights and awards
Julius Erving Award (2026) Consensus first-team All-American (2026) Big 12 Freshman of the Year (2026) First-team All-Big 12 (2026) NCAA scoring champion (2026) McDonald's All-American (2025) 2× Nike Hoop Summit (2024, 2025) FIBA Under-19 World Cup MVP (2025)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States FIBA U19 World Cup Gold 2025 Switzerland || Team FIBA U17 World Cup Gold 2024 Turkey || Team FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship Gold 2023 Mérida || Team

Anicet "AJ" Dybantsa Jr. (born January 29, 2007) is a talented American professional basketball player. He plays for the Washington Wizards in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, AJ played college basketball for one year with the BYU Cougars. He was chosen as the very first player in the 2026 NBA draft by the Wizards.

AJ Dybantsa's Early Life and High School Journey

AJ Dybantsa was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 29, 2007. He grew up in Brockton. His family has roots in the Republic of Congo and Jamaica. His father, Ace, was born in Congo, and his mother, Chelsea, is from Jamaica.

During his first year of high school, AJ was named the Massachusetts Boys' Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year. He played really well, scoring about 19 points, grabbing almost 10 rebounds, and making nearly 3 assists and 3 blocks per game. He helped his team, Saint Sebastian's, reach the state championship game, but they narrowly lost.

After his first year, AJ moved to Prolific Prep in Napa, California. There, he played alongside another top young player, Tyran Stokes. In July 2023, AJ was the top scorer at the Nike Peach Jam tournament. He scored an amazing 25.8 points per game for his team, Expressions Elite. AJ finished his high school basketball career playing for Utah Prep Academy during the 2024-25 season.

AJ Dybantsa's College Recruiting Journey

After his first year of high school, ESPN called AJ the top future NBA player for the 2026 draft class. Many big colleges wanted him to play for them. These included Boston College, Alabama, BYU, and Duke. In July 2023, another sports website, On3.com, said AJ was the best high school player in the entire country.

On October 11, 2023, AJ decided to move up a year in his high school class. He changed to the 2025 class.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
AJ Dybantsa SF	Brockton, MA	Utah Prep	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	203 lb (92 kg)	Dec 10, 2024
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 1  247Sports: 2  ESPN: 1
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:

AJ Dybantsa's College Basketball Career

On December 10, 2024, AJ shared that he would play college basketball for BYU. He chose BYU because he wanted to focus on basketball without too many distractions. He was the highest-ranked player ever to commit to BYU.

On January 24, 2026, AJ set a new record for BYU freshmen. He scored an amazing 43 points in one game, helping his team win against Utah. On April 22, AJ decided to enter the 2026 NBA draft. Many experts thought he would be the very first player chosen.

AJ Dybantsa's Professional NBA Career

In the 2026 NBA draft, the Washington Wizards chose AJ Dybantsa as the first player overall. He is the second player ever to be picked first by the Wizards, after John Wall in 2010.

AJ Dybantsa's National Team Achievements

AJ has also played for the United States national team. In 2023, he won a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Mérida, Mexico. He scored 12 points in the final game and averaged almost 14 points throughout the tournament.

The next year, in 2024, he helped the U.S. team win another gold medal. This was at the 2024 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup in Turkey. He averaged about 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. In 2025, AJ was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2025 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup. He helped the U.S. win their ninth championship at this event. He averaged about 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists during the tournament.

AJ Dybantsa's Career Statistics

College Statistics

See also

In Spanish: AJ Dybantsa para niños