MANHATTAN — During Monday’s pre-draft media availability, both star prospects linked to the Washington Wizards at No. 1 overall reiterated their thoughts about the team. BYU forward AJ Dybantsa is the favorite to be the first pick off the board, but Washington took a long look at Kansas guard Darryn Peterson throughout the last few weeks too.
The latter player spoke on his impression of the Wizards in a brief conversation with ClutchPoints.
I asked Darryn Peterson what’s his impression of the Wizards so far:
“When I visited, it was great. It went well. Spent a lot of time with their staff, if they happen to take me I’d be delighted to be there and come in ready to work.”
On what area of his game he wants to work… pic.twitter.com/sZ8fbkwfYt
— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) June 22, 2026
“When I visited, it was great. It went well,” he said. “Spent a lot of time with their staff. If they happen to take me, I’d be delighted to be there and come in ready to work.”
It’s no secret that both Dybantsa and Peterson want to go No. 1, as Dybantsa reportedly had a “perfect” pre-draft meeting with Washington, per ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel. Plus, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on June 15 that Peterson only met with the Wizards.
However, the Ohio native told The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer on Monday that he met with the Utah Jazz, who own the No. 2 pick, for a “Combine-like interview” rather than a workout. Similarly, Dybantsa previously said that he didn’t do any pre-draft workouts.
While both players have All-NBA upside, it’s fair to wonder if Peterson would’ve been the consensus top prospect in the class had he stayed healthy with the Jayhawks. The 2026 second-team All-Big 12 honoree averaged 20.2 points on 43.8% shooting (38.2% 3-point) with 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals over 29 minutes as a freshman last season, but missed 11 games and checked himself out of multiple others due to injuries. He suffered severe cramps as well as hamstring, ankle and quad issues.
Despite Peterson’s setbacks, he showcased tantalizing scoring ability away from the rim while pulling his weight defensively as well. The 19-year-old’s film speaks for itself:
Darryn Peterson is an artful scorer…
Beauty in his game. 6'6, 6'10 wing, 200lb. Silky pull-ups. High volume 3P. One of the most efficient off-ball scorers the NCAA has ever seen. Instinctual and strong defender. Low TOV. Fits next to ANYONE. Special. pic.twitter.com/K8msl98CHN
— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) June 20, 2026
Peterson also played as an off-ball guard at Kansas, a role he would cleanly slide into next to star Wizards point guard Trae Young, who signed a four-year, $212 million deal with the team on Monday. Conversely, Dybantsa was the Cougars’ offensive engine last season and didn’t focus as much on defense. The 2025-26 NCAA scoring champion even admitted to ClutchPoints on Monday that he was “lazy” defensively at BYU, something he pledged to correct in the NBA.
Dybantsa must improve on that end as well as his three-point shooting if Washington does pick him on Tuesday night, as he won’t be on the ball as much next to Young. Plus, the latter player is one of the NBA’s worst defenders, and the Wizards can’t have multiple defensive liabilities in the starting lineup.
Dybantsa shot 33.1% from deep on 4.2 average attempts at BYU, showing that he’s at least a capable three-point shooter. But the Massachusetts native specializes in getting to the rim and working the midrange, so he’d have to adjust next to Young, who often gets to the paint and kicks out to open shooters.
However, Dybantsa had no health issues last season, making his profile less risky. If the consensus first-team All-American avoids injury and improves on his weaknesses, there won’t be much for fans to complain about.
Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa speak on potentially winning championship with Wizards
There are few more success-starved fanbases in the NBA than Washington’s, which is why the organization must get this pick right. Whoever it chooses will immediately become the franchise player and lead it to a championship at some point. The Wizards haven’t won a title since 1978 and haven’t returned to the conference finals since 1979.
Both Dybantsa and Peterson addressed the topic on Monday, via D.C. News Now’s Alex Flum.
Asked both AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson their thoughts on potentially helping the Wizards win a championship if taken number one.
The Wizards franchise has not won a championship since 1978.@DCNewsNow @SleeperWizards pic.twitter.com/3d9Y8Daud3
— Alex Flum (@AlexFlumTV) June 22, 2026
“I would be super eager [to deliver a title to D.C.],” Dybantsa said. “No matter what team I go to, I’m trying to bring championships. But [the Wizards] haven’t won since the ’70s; that’s a long time. If I go there, I’ll definitely have to bring one to the city.”
“It’s something huge for my career; I want to win championships,” Peterson said. “I’m coming in with that mindset early.”
Each player will be compared to the other over the coming years, as whoever leads their squad to a title first might be viewed as the better player. Championships are a team accomplishment, but they are also viewed as holy grails on individual resumes when discussing the greatest players ever or of certain eras.
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft begins at 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday on ABC/ESPN. The second round will be at the same time and on the same networks on Wednesday, with both events being held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
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