AJ Dybantsa becomes first overall NBA Draft pick from Massachusetts since Patrick Ewing
The Washington Wizards selected Brockton native AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday. The BYU power forward became the first Massachusetts prospect selected first since Patrick Ewing in 1985.
Dybantsa was raised in Brockton, and attended school in the city growing up. He went on to play at St. Sebastian's School in Needham for his freshman year of high school.
At St. Sebastian's, Dybantsa won the Massachusetts Boys' Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year award for the 2022-23 season.
After that spectacular campaign, Dybantsa moved to Napa, California and played for Prolific Prep.
In one season on a lucrative NIL deal with BYU, Dybantsa led the team to the NCAA tournament and averaged 25.5 points per game to go along with 6.8 rebounds.
Ewing was selected first in the 1985 draft by the New York Knicks out of Georgetown. Ewing was born in Jamaica, but later moved to Massachusetts and went on to star at Cambridge Rindge and Latin.
In an interview with WBZ-TV leading up to the draft, Dybantsa thanked the teachers and coaches in Brockton who helped him get to this point, saying "I wouldn't be here without them."
Watch party at Dybantsa's Brockton school
The 19-year-old's journey started in Brockton at the Davis School, where students packed into their cafeteria Tuesday night to watch the draft.
"Oh my god it's so exciting," said Sarah St. George, Dybantsa's third grade teacher. "Not just for me but for our community. Our school. It's such a big deal. We are so proud."
St. George said from the beginning, he had the dreams to go the distance and the work ethic to pull it off.
"He's such a great example," St. George said. "He's a student who worked hard. Believed in himself. Had the support and love from his parents and look at where he is right now. Just amazing."
The school says he has always stayed connected with his roots. After he signed with BYU and Nike, he used his platform to give back, including sneakers for the basketball teams and school supplies.
"I think it sets a good opportunity for kids so they know that they can strive to be anything and nothing is impossible," said Marilyn Normil of Brockton.
"He's tall. He's intelligent and very nice to other people," third grader Noah said.
Inspiring the next generation
A lot of these students have met Dybantsa during his visits, where he shares a message that "no dream is too big."
His hometown and his desire to inspire the next generation was the first thing he talked about in his post draft press conference on Tuesday night.
"You know, helping back in the community and just kind of giving kids hope," Dybantsa said. "There are a lot of kids who play basketball out there and think they can't make it but once they see me, they are like OK they might have some hope. It doesn't have to necessarily be basketball but anything they do. If they want to be a doctor or engineer, anything I just try to be their role model."