AJ Dybantsa Might Be the Real No. 1 Pick in the NBA Draft

Darryn Peterson is currently the consensus first pick by most metrics in the upcoming NBA Draft. And honestly, it’s easy to see why. He’s an elite shooter, he’s quick, and he puts constant pressure on the rim. He’s being billed as the most generational American guard prospect we’ve seen in the last decade — and he might just be the next great guard in the NBA.

But I can’t shake the feeling that AJ Dybantsa is the real “no-doubt” prospect in this class — and that he’s destined to be at least an All-Star at the NBA level.

Dybantsa is a 6’9” forward who already looks built for the NBA. He’ll be just nineteen when he makes his NBA debut, but few prospects come into the league with a more NBA-ready frame. What truly makes him special, though, is how fluid he is both on and off the ball. He’s a freak athlete — the kind that doesn’t come around often — and when you pair that with his fundamentals and instincts, you start to see Giannis-level potential.

Even as a freshman, Dybantsa already looks imposing when he gets a smaller defender switched onto him. He can rise up over taller players and hit mid-range jumpers — or simply dunk right over them. He’s shooting 57% from the field this season, showing how dominant he can be inside the arc.

The only real concern? His outside shot. Dybantsa is hitting just 33% from deep. Still, his mechanics are solid, and he’s never had to rely on his jumper to dominate at lower levels. That should develop over time.

What intrigues me most about Dybantsa is his defensive presence. Some players just command attention from opposing coaches — and for BYU, that’s Dybantsa. Where the Giannis comparisons really show up is on defense. He can be an elite-impact player on that end of the floor.

My only concern is whether that dominance translates at the next level. He’s such a powerful athlete that he currently overpowers most opponents at the rim, but with just a 6’9” wingspan, NBA players — who are longer and stronger — may be able to finish through him.

Darryn Peterson still has to develop an NBA-ready body. Dybantsa, meanwhile, is someone you could plug into your starting lineup on opening night and trust to hold his own immediately. Peterson might be the better long-term play for a guard-needy team, but Dybantsa has the physical traits and instincts you simply can’t teach.

If he dominates through the Big 12’s physical conference play this season, he’ll be my no-doubt first overall pick next year.