The Wizards may be getting a closer look at the player many around the NBA believe will be the top pick in this month’s draft.
According to Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors, citing reporting from David Aldridge and Josh Robbins of The Athletic, former BYU star AJ Dybantsa is expected to visit Washington in the coming days. The meeting could take place as early as Thursday.
Washington owns the No. 1 overall pick and has frequently been linked to Dybantsa throughout the pre-draft process. The 6-foot-9 wing is coming off a standout freshman season at BYU, where he averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while emerging as one of the nation’s most dynamic offensive players.
Still, as Adams noted, the Wizards have not publicly tipped their hand.
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke forward Cameron Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson are also believed to be under consideration near the top of the draft. According to The Athletic’s reporting, Wilson has already met with Washington officials.
Adams also highlighted a separate report from Robbins indicating that the prevailing opinion within the organization is that two prospects have separated themselves from the rest of the class.
While Robbins did not identify those players, leaguewide sentiment has largely centered on Dybantsa and Peterson as the top two prospects available.
If Washington has not finalized its decision, Dybantsa’s upcoming visit could prove significant. As Adams relayed, meetings for players projected at the very top of the draft often focus less on on-court workouts and more on conversations, dinners and determining organizational fit.
The NBA Draft begins June 23, giving the Wizards less than two weeks to decide whether Dybantsa is the player they want to build around for the future.
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