Aj Dybantsa - Basketball Player
Age: 19
Country: United States Occupations:
Basketball Player
Anicet "AJ" Dybantsa Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters) and weighing approximately 217 pounds, he primarily plays the small forward position. Known for his exceptional fluid athleticism, scoring ability, and versatile playmaking, he has frequently drawn comparisons to NBA legends like Tracy McGrady.
Early Life and High School Career
Dybantsa was born on January 29, 2007, in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Brockton. He attended Saint Sebastian's School in Needham, Massachusetts, for his freshman year, where he earned the 2023 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Seeking tougher national competition, he later transferred to Prolific Prep Academy in California for his junior season and finished his high school career at Utah Prep Academy. Dybantsa rose to prominence as a consensus five-star recruit and the consensus No. 1 overall prospect in the high school graduating class of 2025.
College Career
Dybantsa committed to play college basketball for the BYU Cougars. During his lone 2025–26 freshman season at BYU, he made an immense impact by leading the entire nation in scoring with 25.5 points per game. His accolades during this standout season included being named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, winning the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award, and securing Consensus First Team All-American honors.
Professional and International Career
Following his historic freshman year, Dybantsa declared for the NBA draft and was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Wizards in the 2026 NBA Draft.
On the international stage, Dybantsa has consistently represented the United States. He won gold medals with USA Basketball at the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas Championship and the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup. In 2025, he led the U.S. team to another gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup, where he was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP).