Friday, January 17th, 2025 at TD Garden, the Boston Celtics, fresh off their 2024 NBA championship, prepare to play the Orlando Magic. I’m on assignment for Chronicle, and while it was easy to spot stars Jalen Brown and Jayson Tatum, they were making time to greet *** tall 17-year-old I didn’t know. My producer was quick to inform me I was looking at the future of the NBA. Anise Devansa Junior, who goes by AJ, was raised in Brockton, and in 2025 he was considered the number one high school basketball player in the country. We contacted AJ’s father Ace, who invited us behind the scenes for *** closer look inside the life of AJ Debana from high school phenom. So you were dunking in 6th grade to college star. Through tragedy this morning, Hurricane Melissa on the cusp of slamming into West Jamaica to the presumptive first pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Our 16 month journey with AJ Devana and his hoop dreams starts now.
The Washington Wizards selected forward AJ Dybantsa, who led the nation in scoring in his one season at BYU, with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft on Tuesday night.Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, highlighted by a 43-point effort that broke BYU’s freshman scoring record.At 6-foot-9 and 217 pounds, Dybantsa has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant, who happens to be his favorite player. Durant grew up in the Washington area, and Wizards fans can only hope Dybantsa can live up to the comparisons.They certainly hope he will be better than center Kwame Brown, the pick Washington made in 2001, the first time it had the No. 1 selection after the NBA changed draft formats to eliminate territorial picks in 1966. The Wizards took John Wall in 2010 the other time, and he did turn into an All-Star.He appeared to say a quick prayer after his name was announced, then went on stage to greet Commissioner Adam Silver and slipped on a black Wizards hat that matched nicely with his black suit.Dybantsa beat out fellow freshman Darryn Peterson of Kansas, who was taken at the No. 2 pick by Utah. While some thought Peterson had the most talent in the class, the guard missed 11 games during the season because of injuries and illness, potentially creating some questions that Dybantsa didn’t have.Cameron Boozer, the college player of the year in his one season at Duke, was taken at No. 3 by Memphis.The players selected in the first round of the NBA draft Tuesday night in New York:Washington Wizards – AJ Dybantsa, BYU forwardUtah Jazz – Darryn Peterson, Kansas guardMemphis Grizzlies – Cameron Boozer, Duke forwardChicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson, North Carolina forwardLos Angeles Clippers – Keaton Wagler, Illinois guardBrooklyn Nets – Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville guardSacramento Kings – Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas guardAtlanta Hawks – Kingston Flemings, Houston guardDallas Mavericks – Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan forwardMilwaukee Bucks – Brayden Burries, Arizona guardGolden State Warriors – Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan forwardOklahoma City Thunder -Miami Heat -Charlotte Hornets -Chicago Bulls -Memphis Grizzlies -Oklahoma City Thunder -Charlotte Hornets -Toronto Raptors -San Antonio Spurs -Detroit Pistons -Philadelphia 76ers – Atlanta Hawks -New York Knicks -Los Angeles Lakers -Denver Nuggets -Boston Celtics -Minnesota Timberwolves -Cleveland Cavaliers -Dallas Mavericks –
The Washington Wizards selected forward AJ Dybantsa, who led the nation in scoring in his one season at BYU, with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft on Tuesday night.
Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, highlighted by a 43-point effort that broke BYU’s freshman scoring record.
At 6-foot-9 and 217 pounds, Dybantsa has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant, who happens to be his favorite player. Durant grew up in the Washington area, and Wizards fans can only hope Dybantsa can live up to the comparisons.
They certainly hope he will be better than center Kwame Brown, the pick Washington made in 2001, the first time it had the No. 1 selection after the NBA changed draft formats to eliminate territorial picks in 1966. The Wizards took John Wall in 2010 the other time, and he did turn into an All-Star.
He appeared to say a quick prayer after his name was announced, then went on stage to greet Commissioner Adam Silver and slipped on a black Wizards hat that matched nicely with his black suit.
Dybantsa beat out fellow freshman Darryn Peterson of Kansas, who was taken at the No. 2 pick by Utah. While some thought Peterson had the most talent in the class, the guard missed 11 games during the season because of injuries and illness, potentially creating some questions that Dybantsa didn’t have.
Cameron Boozer, the college player of the year in his one season at Duke, was taken at No. 3 by Memphis.
The players selected in the first round of the NBA draft Tuesday night in New York:
- Washington Wizards – AJ Dybantsa, BYU forward
- Utah Jazz – Darryn Peterson, Kansas guard
- Memphis Grizzlies – Cameron Boozer, Duke forward
- Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson, North Carolina forward
- Los Angeles Clippers – Keaton Wagler, Illinois guard
- Brooklyn Nets – Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville guard
- Sacramento Kings – Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas guard
- Atlanta Hawks – Kingston Flemings, Houston guard
- Dallas Mavericks – Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan forward
- Milwaukee Bucks – Brayden Burries, Arizona guard
- Golden State Warriors – Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan forward
- Oklahoma City Thunder –
- Miami Heat –
- Charlotte Hornets –
- Chicago Bulls –
- Memphis Grizzlies –
- Oklahoma City Thunder –
- Charlotte Hornets –
- Toronto Raptors –
- San Antonio Spurs –
- Detroit Pistons –
- Philadelphia 76ers –
- Atlanta Hawks –
- New York Knicks –
- Los Angeles Lakers –
- Denver Nuggets –
- Boston Celtics –
- Minnesota Timberwolves –
- Cleveland Cavaliers –
- Dallas Mavericks –
