The Washington Wizards opened the NBA draft on Tuesday night by selecting BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Wizards tabbed Dybantsa over Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, who had a checkered college season at Kansas. The Utah Jazz then selected Peterson second overall.
The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa led the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game in his one college campaign and should be ready to make an immediate impact.
“This means a lot,” Dybantsa told ESPN of going first in the draft. “It’s a stepping stone. Obviously, I have a lot more work to do.”
This is the third time Washington has held the No. 1 overall pick. The Wizards selected Kwame Brown in 2001 and John Wall in 2010.
Dybantsa is the first BYU player to go first overall.
The Jazz are a team stacked with frontcourt players, so adding Peterson bolsters the backcourt.
Peterson said his father repeatedly told him he would someday be a top NBA draft choice.
“Honestly I didn’t, but my pops always knew,” Peterson said. “Once I got older, I started to believe it well. All the work paid off.”
Peterson averaged 20.2 points last season but missed 11 of the Jayhawks’ 35 games and left early in others due to apparent injuries, including cramping.
Dybantsa and Peterson began a run of eight straight freshmen to start the draft.
Duke forward Cameron Boozer went No. 3 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds last season for the Blue Devils.
“As it happens, just enjoy,” Boozer said. “This is my whole life in a couple seconds. It’s amazing for sure.”
Boozer’s dad, Carlos, was a former star for Utah and now works in the team’s front office. The focus of his duties for the Jazz is evaluating NBA draft prospects.
The Chicago Bulls chose forward Caleb Wilson of North Carolina fourth. Wilson averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in his lone college season.
“That kid got here by hard work, believing in himself and having a great support system,” Wilson said of going No. 4.
The next four picks were guards, beginning with the Los Angeles Clippers grabbing Keaton Wagler of Illinois.
Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists as a star freshman after being greatly undervalued as a high school prospect.
“I think it’s just all the hard work I put in,” Wagler said. “I didn’t worry about what anybody said and just stayed true to myself.”
The Brooklyn Nets tabbed Mikel Brown Jr. of Louisville at No. 6. Brown averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists but played just 21 games due to injuries and shot 34.4% from 3-point range.
Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr. went seventh overall to the Sacramento Kings. He averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists and joined LSU legend Pete Maravich (1969-70) as the only players to lead the Southeastern Conference in both scoring and assists in the same season.
The Atlanta Hawks took Houston point guard Kingston Flemings at No. 8. He averaged 16.1 points and 5.2 assists.
The Dallas Mavericks formally announced the hiring of Dusty May as head coach Tuesday afternoon and then selected forward Morez Johnson Jr., one of the key players on May’s championship team at Michigan. Johnson averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds.
“It’s his second day,” Johnson, the first non-freshman pick, said of May. “I think it had a little bit to do with it, but not too much. … It’s insane. We won together this past season, looking forward to winning with him when I get there.”
The Milwaukee Bucks reportedly traded two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat to gain many assets, including the 13th overall pick, giving them two selections in a four-pick span. The Bucks tabbed Arizona guard Brayden Burries at No. 10. Burries averaged 16.1 points and 4.9 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
