BYU star AJ Dybantsa makes official NBA Draft decision in epic fashion

Just when the NFL Draft is drawing most of the buzz, projected No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa is making sure to steal some eyeballs for the NBA. As expected, the BYU Cougars star announced his decision to declare for the 2026 NBA Draft, doing so with a classy and personal touch. Dybantsa, an avid content creator, shared the announcement social media, showing some dunks and old photos while reading a letter from his 7-year-old self, who dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. "See y'all on draft night," Dybantsa captioned the video. See y'all on draft night pic.twitter.com/F2LEt0SqSS Dybantsa led the nation in scoring, and some scouts argued he could've gone toe-to-toe with Cooper Flagg as the first overall pick last year if he had been eligible. A playmaking forward, the 6-foot-9 BYU star will continue to grow into his frame, showcasing the rare combination of shooting and ball-handling that NBA scouts covet so much in bigger players nowadays. In his lone appearance in the NCAA Tournament, Dybantsa dropped 35 points with 10 rebounds to solidify his status as a top selection, even in the loss. He had eight 30-point games, including a 30-point triple-double and a 43-point explosion against Utah.  He averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.4 three-pointers per game on 51/33/77 shooting splits. The NBA will host its draft lottery in Chicago on May 10, with Dybantsa's hometown Utah Jazz joining the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards as the teams with the highest odds to get the top selection. The NBA Draft will be held on June 23-24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.  Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!