{"id":661805,"date":"2026-05-11T07:39:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T07:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/661805\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T07:39:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T07:39:09","slug":"from-aj-dybantsa-to-darius-acuff-jr-nba-draft-lottery-talents-make-their-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/661805\/","title":{"rendered":"From AJ Dybantsa to Darius Acuff Jr., NBA draft lottery talents make their case"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHICAGO \u2013 AJ Dybantsa learned that the nation\u2019s capital could very well be his future home when the Washington Wizards were awarded the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft on Sunday. But with Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson eyeing the No. 1 spot as well, it\u2019s now on Dybantsa to prove he is worthy of being selected first in one of the deepest drafts in recent memory.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just saw Washington get No. 1 and obviously I\u2019m striving to be the No. 1 pick,\u201d Dybantsa told Andscape. \u201cThat has been my goal since I started playing basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former Wizards star John Wall was representing his old franchise on stage at Navy Pier when it secured the No. 1 pick for the first time since he was selected in 2010. Washington, the Brooklyn Nets and the Indiana Pacers each had a 14% chance of landing the top selection. <\/p>\n

Whoever the Wizards pick will join a roster expected to feature 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young (player option next season), rising star forward Alexandre Sarr and several other talented young players.<\/p>\n

NBA draft lottery is ‘excitement for the unknown’ to Sacramento Kings GM Scott Perry \u2013 AndscapeRead now<\/a><\/p>\n

Dybantsa would love to wear a Wizards uniform and could very well get the opportunity. <\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Jeremy Woo has the former BYU forward as the projected No. 1 pick for the Wizards after the lottery results were released. The 6-foot-9 19-year-old averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game as a true freshman last season.<\/p>\n

Wizards president Michael Winger told reporters after the lottery that the team will consider several prospects for the No. 1 pick. Still, Dybantsa is widely considered the front-runner as of now.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I go there, it will be a great opportunity. They have a great young core,\u201d Dybantsa said of Washington.<\/p>\n

\"AJAJ Dybantsa (left) is projected to be the No. 1 in the 2026 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards.<\/p>\n

Jeff Haynes\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Woo projects the Utah Jazz will take Peterson with the No. 2 pick, but the former Kansas guard is also expected to be considered by Washington as well.<\/p>\n

Peterson led Kansas in scoring, averaging 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24 games. While the 6-foot-6, 205-pounder was hampered by severe cramping issues, he said he hopes the controversy was cleared up after ESPN\u2019s Ramona Shelburne reported last week that it was caused accidentally by taking high doses of creatine supplements.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone wants to compare me and DP [Peterson],\u201d Dybantsa said. \u201cHe\u2019s a great. Obviously, he has a chance to be the No. 1 pick. But I\u2019m betting on myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Woo sees the Memphis Grizzlies selecting Boozer with the third overall pick and the Chicago Bulls taking Wilson at No. 4. Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge also introduced himself to Wilson after the lottery, and Jazz guard Keyonte George hugged Peterson after ESPN\u2019s draft lottery show concluded.<\/p>\n

Said Peterson to Andscape: \u201cI feel the basketball part will take care of itself. I know what everybody can do, but I feel like I can come in and be the best teammate I can be, give great effort every day, and be on time. We all can hoop. It\u2019s going to be the stuff off the court. \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI am a point guard. I\u2019m the best when I have the ball in my hands. Off the court, I\u2019m going to be the best pro.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yaxel Lendeborg didn\u2019t see the future. His mother did. \u2013 AndscapeRead now<\/a><\/p>\n

While Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Wilson are the consensus top four prospects of the class, predraft workouts, medical results, interviews, talent and potential will play a role in the final decisions for the top pick and beyond. <\/p>\n

Wilson is perhaps the most athletic player in the draft with the highest ceiling. He missed the final nine games of North Carolina\u2019s season with a pair of injuries \u2014 first a fracture in his left hand suffered Feb. 10, then with a broken right thumb suffered March 5.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-10, 215-pounder says he is healthy now, expects to play in summer league and has an improved jump shot.<\/p>\n

When asked if he felt slept on, Wilson told Andscape, \u201cFor sure. But it always comes to light. I will prove it when I get to play again, and that will be summer league. I\u2019m just waiting for the opportunity. I feel like I\u2019m a versatile player, and I will change any franchise that will choose to draft me. Whoever feels I\u2019m good enough to be a part of their program or wants me to be a part of it, I\u2019ll be excited to be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boozer is not only talented but is viewed as a pick who is ready to play immediately.<\/p>\n

The consensus college basketball player of the year averaged team bests of 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game as a freshman at Duke last season. His father, former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, previously told Andscape that the Duke star is a \u201cmodern-day version\u201d of Hall of Famer Tim Duncan and that \u201cGMs that don\u2019t pick Cam, they\u2019re going to regret that 15 years from now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether I go 1, 2 or 3 or whatever the case may be, I think winning and what I bring to the team, my resume, it shows for itself,\u201d Cameron Boozer told Andscape. \u201cIf a team wants to hang a banner in the rafters, I\u2019m definitely the guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DarrynDespite an injury-plagued season at Kansas, Darryn Peterson is in the running to be selected in the top two picks in the NBA draft.<\/p>\n

Melissa Tamez\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

For NBA teams that weren\u2019t so lucky in the draft lottery, there is a wealth of talent available after the perceived top 4. <\/p>\n

One Eastern Conference executive told Andscape that there is enough talent for all 14 draft lottery teams to feel satisfied. This may be the best NBA draft since 2018, when the likes of Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr., Deandre Ayton, Wendell Carter Jr., Mikal Bridges, Miles Bridges and Michael Porter Jr. were all draft lottery selections.<\/p>\n

One of those prospects that seemed stoic and motivated after the NBA draft lottery was former Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. <\/p>\n

The 2026 winner of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Bob Cousy Award, awarded to the top point guard in college basketball, averaged 23.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game on 44% from 3-point range as a freshman for Arkansas last season.<\/p>\n

Arkansas men\u2019s basketball coach John Calipari warned NBA teams to Andscape in March about Acuff, saying, \u201cIf you pass on him, you\u2019ll regret it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Acuff is projected to be drafted sixth by the Brooklyn Nets by Woo. Acuff plans on proving he\u2019s worthy of shaking up the draft by being selected higher.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just got to showcase my talent,\u201d Acuff told Andscape about his upcoming team workouts. \u201cI got to have the same mindset as playing [games]. Go out there and kill it. I know what it is. They will see, if they don\u2019t. \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cTeams are going to get a dog. Winner. An alpha for sure. Everyone will know it for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasn\u2019t been able to in years and his knees still hurt.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"CHICAGO \u2013 AJ Dybantsa learned that the nation\u2019s capital could very well be his future home when the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":661806,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[434],"tags":[49,48,459,82],"class_list":["post-661805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nba","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/661805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=661805"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/661805\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/661806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=661805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=661805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=661805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}