BYU's new era of basketball success includes 1st round draft picks in back-to-back years

byu basketball,2026 NBA Draft,AJ Dybantsa,Featured - Sports

Nate Church

June 25, 07:15 PM June 25, 07:15 PM

NEW YORK A new era has come to BYU basketball.

On Tuesday, AJ Dybantsa made BYU history when he was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards, the first player in school history to ever be selected No. 1 in the NBA draft.

Two years ago, BYUs Egor Demin was also drafted in the top 10 as the No. 8 pick to the Brooklyn Nets, the third highest pick in BYU history. Denim has gone on to break multiple rookie records during his first season in the NBA.

What were seeing right now is the culmination of decades upon decades of hard work and intention paying off, said BYU director of athletics communications Jon McBride. The amount of BYU brand recognition that is happening right now is remarkable.

So, how did BYU send two back-to-back lottery picks to the NBA Draft?

First, nobody outside of the blue-goggled super fans could have ever imagined a BYU player being taken No. 1 in the NBA draft, much less two lottery picks in back-to-back years.

BYU, over the years certainly has had some great talent, said Mark Durrant, current BYU analyst and a former BYU basketball player. But often, those players didnt have the kind of physical attributes that the NBA looks for and so it was tough to get a lot of attention or high picks.

Durrant pointed out that every once in a while, BYU would get a great player drafted as a lottery pick, such as Shawn Bradley and Jimmer Fredette.

To have two lottery picks back-to-back, said Durrant, pausing, I didnt think Id ever see it.

And it's safe to say that most other BYU fans would agree with him. BYU has seemed to be on the cusp of greatness for years, towing the line but never joining the bigger fish.

But that was the old era BYU. The new era BYU is adapting to the modern age of college sports and using it to promote its brand and bring in top talent.

I think the changing landscape of college basketball actually has really worked well for (coach) Kevin (Young), said Durrant. His experience has been with the NBA, his experience has been with guys getting paid to play and getting traded which are now part of college basketball.

It is obvious that Youngs experience as a coach in the NBA has helped players make their decision on whether or not to come to BYU. However, his ability to navigate the changing landscape has BYU finally sitting at the big kids table.

Young has said himself that he is still learning how to navigate college basketball, but however he is doing it, it seems to be working.

Now, some may say, Yeah, but we didnt make it past the first round of the tournament last year then remember Tuesday nights events. The new era BYU isnt perfect, but it is doing something right.

But a momentum shift like BYU is experiencing right now isnt built in two years and with a single coaching change. It was the aforementioned decades of work that led BYU to becoming recognizable on the national stage.

That recognition paved the way for its true first steps into its new era, joining the Big 12 Conference in 2023.

Moving into a Power 4 conference is a big deal for any school, but it has elevated BYU in a way that others may not have anticipated. Not only that, but the Big 12 is one of the toughest basketball conferences in the country. So in order to fit in, BYU had to prove itself.

In 2024, the Cougars bought in big with Young. When Young brought Demin to Provo, there was buzz of a BYU player becoming a lottery. After a solid start to the season, heads were nodding in approval of the Young hire.

Then, Dybantsa announced his commitment to BYU in December of 2024. A commitment that set the BYU and college basketball world on fire with excitement.

Adding to the hype, the Cougars went on a hot-streak, winning eight consecutive games to end the season, earning themselves a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Still on a hot streak, the Cougars knocked off VCU and Wisconsin, making their way to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011.

Even though BYU lost in the Sweet 16, Young and his team did something that nobody was really expecting the Cougars to do. After a good season, Demin declared for the draft and was in the conversation to be a late lottery pick.

As if the hype couldnt get any bigger, Denim was taken as the No. 8 pick, three spots higher than his highest projection.

Denim was the pioneer that took a chance on BYU. When he signed, some wondered why a kid from Moscow, Russia would choose a place like BYU?

And later when Dybantsa signed, even more people wondered why a top prospect from Brockton, Massachusetts, would ever go to Provo.

Egor (Demin) and AJ (Dybantsa) definitely came from different backgrounds, but they both fully embraced what BYU could offer them, said McBride. BYUs culture is not for everyone, but I think we are seeing that for the right recruits, they can absolutely thrive in this culture.

Culture. A word and idea that is at the heart of this monumental upgrade that BYU is going through.

BYU is offering something that other schools cant compete with. And yes, while money is a factor, schools like North Carolina and Duke could have easily paid for Dybantsa to come to their schools.

But the culture at BYU is buying players more than any amount of money. It is making BYU a destination school for athletes from around the world.

With Demin and Dybantsa, BYU is showing that it can make players from different countries, cultures and religions feel welcome. It is encouraging its athletes to pursue academic success, even though he is heading to the NBA, Dybantsa is still planning to finish his degree through BYU online.

How many 19-year-olds who just made it to the NBA that want to continue attending college? Yeah, not many.

That is a helpful message for people to see, said McBride. The things that make BYU distinctive can be a benefit to even the best of the best.

So how did BYU basketball send two back-to-back lottery picks to the NBA draft?

For years it built a culture of athletic and academic success and focused on becoming a landing spot for anyone, no matter their culture, nationality or religion. And, when the time was right, it brought in Young, a coach who believes in that culture.

Young went and found players, like Demin and Dybantsa, who believed in the culture at BYU and realized that BYU can take them where they want to go and help build them into the type of person they want to be.

They welcomed me with open arms, Dybantsa said in an interview shortly after he was drafted. I just give the most thanks to BYU, KY (Kevin Young) and all the staff for believing in me ... I knew I wanted to come when I went on that visit."

Big 12 enjoys record performance at 2026 NBA draft

2026 NBA Draft,AJ Dybantsa,richie saunders,big 12,Bruce Branch III

Jayden Barney

June 25, 07:04 PM June 25, 07:15 PM

NEW YORK The Big 12 set several conference records at the 2026 NBA draft.

For the first time, 13 athletes from the Big 12 were drafted, more than every other conference this year.

Nine of those athletes were drafted in the first round, also setting a new conference record.

The stage was set with BYUs AJ Dybantsa going No.1 to the Washington Wizards and Kansass Darryn Peterson going No. 2 to the Utah Jazz. It marked the first time Big 12 athletes went 1-2 in the draft.

Following Dybantsa and Peterson, Houstons Kingston Flemmings went to the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 8 pick and Arizonas Brandon Burries landed the No. 10 pick with the Milwaukee Bucks.

With four players taken in the top 10, the Big 12 set a new conference record for the most top 10 picks in a single draft.

This year was undoubtedly a step up in top-10 placement from Big 12 athletes in recent years.

In 2025, V.J. Edgecombe from Baylor went No. 3 and Egor Demin from BYU went No. 8. In 2024, Cody Williams from Colorado went No. 10.

Following Burries at No. 10, Texas Techs Christian Anderson was drafted at No. 18, Baylors Cameron Carr at No. 24, Houstons Chris Cenac Jr. at No. 27, Iowa States Joshua Johnson at No. 28 and Arizonas Koa Peat at No. 30.

In addition to the nine first-round picks, four Big 12 athletes were drafted in the second round.

Notably, Richie Saunders from BYU was drafted at No. 32, Baba Miller from Cincinnati at No. 36, Emmanuel Sharp from Houston at No. 45, and Jaden Bradley from Arizona at No. 50.

Out of the thirteen drafted, Arizona sent three and Houston sent three. Two came from BYU, with Kansas, Baylor, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Cincinnati sending one each.

Looking ahead, the Big 12 already has athletes projected to be among the top prospects in the 2027 draft.

Tyran Stokes who is widely projected to be No. 1 in the 2027 draft will play at Kansas.

Dylan Mingo at Baylor, is projected to be a top draft pick along with Bruce Branch III at BYU. All three are incoming freshman.

Memphis drafts BYU's Richie Saunders in 2nd round

richie saunders,byu basketball,2026 NBA Draft

Jayden Barney

June 24, 07:59 PM June 24, 08:04 PM

NEW YORK BYUs Richie Saunders was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round, the No. 32 pick overall, in the 2026 NBA draft.

Saunders is the second BYU player to be drafted in this 2026 draft cycle, with his former teammate AJ Dybansta being drafted No. 1 by the Washington Wizards. This is the first time since 1984 that multiple BYU players were drafted in the same year.

Saunders spent his entire college career with the Cougars, playing a total of 128 games in BYU blue. During the 2025-26 season, he averaged 18 points a game and 5.8 rebounds with a 48.9 field goal percentage.

He was awarded Big 12 Most Improved Player of the Year during the 2024-25 season, where he held the team's high points per game average with 16.5 points.

In 2025, he helped the Cougars get to the Sweet Sixteen in the 2025 March Madness championship, the first time BYU made it to the Sweet Sixteen since 2011. In that run, he averaged 22 points per game with a 59.5 field goal percentage and 100 percent from the free throw line.

Saunders final season with the Cougars was cut short when he tore his ACL on Feb. 14 in a home game against Colorado.

When he recovers, he will join No. 3 draft pick Cameron Boozer from Duke and No. 21 Karim Lopez, from the New Zealand Breakers, with the Grizzlies.

The Utah Jazz select Darryn Peterson with No. 2 pick in NBA draft

2026 NBA Draft,utah jazz

Jayden Barney

June 24, 03:10 PM June 24, 03:17 PM

NEW YORK The Utah Jazz drafted Darryn Peterson with the second overall selection in the first round, the teams highest draft pick since 1980.

Hours before the draft started, several fans sporting Jazz jerseys were waiting to enter Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Many were hopeful about the outcome of Peterson getting drafted to the Jazz. One of whom is Joel, a Jazz fan from Pittsburgh.

I would be very happy with that, he said, referring to Peterson. I think it would be interesting to see how he shares minutes with (Keyonte) George, but I think hes a very, very talented player. Id be very happy.

Peterson, 19, averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and shot 43.8% from the field during his freshman season with the Jayhawks.

Peterson was projected to be the No.1 pick several times throughout the season, competing with BYU's AJ Dybansta for the No.1 pick. The Washington Wizards drafted Dybansta at the No.1 spot, leaving Peterson as the close No. 2 pick.

The last time the Jazz were able to draft the No. 2 pick was in 1980, with Darrell Griffith. Griffith played with the Jazz from 1980 to 1991, averaging 16.2 points per game with 3.3 rebounds.

He was awarded Rookie of the Year in 1981 and helped take the Jazz to the NBA playoffs seven times.

The Jazz this past 2025-2026 season ended at the bottom of the Western Conference, with a record of 22-60. They havent had a winning record since the 2021-2022 season.

Wizards, Jazz fans at NBA draft weigh in on top draft pick preferences

2026 NBA Draft,AJ Dybantsa,byu basketball

Jayden Barney

June 23, 09:40 PM June 23, 09:43 PM

NEW YORK Two hours before the 2026 NBA draft, fans wearing gear from teams across the league lined up at the Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn.

Graphics on the giant screens above the doors displayed the top projected draft picks, including AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer.

Many local fans were wearing jerseys from the Brooklyn Nets and the defending champion New York Knicks.

Aside from them, many fans were sporting gear from the Washington Wizards and the Utah Jazz, as the teams held the first and second picks in the first round, respectively.

I was born in 1977. The Wizards won the title in 1978. I was one year old, and they were the Bullets back then, said Patrick Heller, a lifelong Wizards fan.

While Heller expressed general sadness hes felt about the Wizards in recent years, he was notably excited and hopeful about how this year's draft would help his team.

Im looking for Dybantsa. Im hoping that he comes to Washington. This is an opportunity for us to really set the stage for the future, said Heller.

A similar outlook was expressed by a fellow Wizards fan, Sam Mejia.

Im hoping for Dybantsa. Although everybody is really good, I think he just fits our team really well, and I think its the clear option. I hope we dont pivot from that, said Mejia. I just see a lot of potential.

Many Utah Jazz fans also had similar opinions regarding the impact of the draft on their team. New York resident and Jazz fan Chris Pellegrini described this draft as the biggest draft in Jazz history.

I think fit-wise, Darryn Peterson, but AJ Dybantsa would just be so cool staying in Utah. That would be awesome, said Pellegrini.

Dybantsas remarkable season at BYU had many Jazz fans expressing the sentiment to keep him in Utah. Jasen Fuller, a lifetime Jazz fan and Utah native, is excited to see what this draft will bring to his team.

Man, I want AJ, but I dont know if its gonna be available, said Fuller.

Just hours later, the Washington Wizards used their No. 1 pick to select Dybantsa. The crowd inside the Barclays Center roared with excitement as Dybantsa walked to the stage.

The Utah Jazz soon after used their No. 2 pick to select Peterson. His announcement also sparked excitement and cheers from the crowd.

The final showdown: Will BYU's AJ Dybantsa be the NBA's No. 1 pick?

byu men's basketball,2026 NBA Draft,AJ Dybantsa,Featured - Sports

Nate Church

June 22, 09:08 PM June 22, 09:08 PM

All of our NBA draft questions will finally be answered Tuesday night. But the most important question of this years draft is one that has possessed fans and analysts alike.

Who will go No. 1? AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson?

So, in anticipation of tomorrow nights draft showdown, it's only fair to make a case for each player and why they should go No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA draft.

Why Dybantsa should go No. 1

Dybantsa is a scoring machine. He led the nation in scoring, averaging 25.5 points per game. He showcased his ability to put a team on his shoulders multiple times throughout the season.

In BYUs home rivalry game against Utah, Dybantsa dropped 43 points and broke the all-time freshman scoring record, previously held by Danny Ainge.

In the Big 12 Tournament, Dybantsa shone brighter than the LED glass court that teams were subject to. After a rocky ending of a season, BYU was seeking redemption in their its round face off against Kansas State.

Dybantsa gave it to the Wildcats in the form of an electric 40-point performance. Not only that, Dybantsa shot 71.4% from the field, had nine rebounds, six assists and three steals in that game.

Feeding off of the first round win, he led the Cougars to the second and then third round of the tournament. Despite losing to Houston in the third round, it didnt stop Dybantsa from breaking another record; the most points scored all-time in the Big 12 Conference Tournament with 93 points, breaking Kevin Durants 2007 record.

Hes long, he can shoot, he can attack, said Keith Smart, Dybantsas former high school coach and a former NBA head coach. He has instincts of a Kobe already at [his] age.

So it's clear that Dybantsa can score the ball. But scoring does not a No. 1 pick make. What really separates Dybantsa from the rest is both his size and his attitude.

At a towering 6-foot-8 1/2 and with an 8-foot-10 standing reach, Dybantsa is not someone a defender can just shoot over or go around. He has the ability to be a presence in the paint and make players work for their shots.

His size and length contribute to his explosiveness. Dybantsa can plow through defenders to get to the rim. And, once there, he can choose between a glass-shattering dunk or a nasty step-back jumper.

Hence, for his scoring ability, size, explosiveness and focus, Dybantsa should be the No. 1 overall pick in this years NBA Draft.

Why Peterson should go No. 1

Now, we can all acknowledge that Petersons freshman season at Kansas was weird. But that doesnt change the fact that the world has seen what Peterson can do.

There is a reason that Peterson was the top pick out of high school. He is a shooting phenom.

Even with a limited season at Kansas, Peterson still managed to average 20.2 points per game. One of his biggest strengths is shooting from beyond the arc, an ability he showcased in a strong win over Oklahoma State. Peterson went 6-of-10 from three in that game.

Ill do the math for you. Thats 60%.

He also has strong ball handling skills and elite footwork and is arguably the best shot creator in this years draft class.

That creativity and vision make defenders hesitate, something that Peterson thrives on. He is quick and explosive, skills that allow him to patiently survey defenses and take advantage of opportunities.

Peterson ended the season shooting 43.8% from the field, 38.2% from three, and 82.6% from the charity stripe. And that was after missing 11 games.

One of his strongest performances was against Dybantsa and the BYU Cougars in late January. In a classic Dybantsa vs. Peterson matchup, Peterson demonstrated why he should be the top pick over Dybantsa.

He got the jump on Dybantsa multiple times, raced past him to the rim and flowed around defenders, scoring almost effortlessly. He only played 20 minutes, but finished with 18 points, shot 3-for-5 from three and had three steals.

Despite only playing the first half, Peterson arguably rose to the challenge in that contest against BYU. When the world was watching and waiting to see who was better, Peterson showed out.

His size and play style make him a plug-and-play fit for the NBA at the guard position. Coming in at 6-foot-4 1/2 and a 6-foot-9 3/4 wingspan, his size pairs well with what will be expected of him in the NBA.

That NBA profile along with both his size, physicality and strength give Peterson something that separates him from the rest, potential.

Peterson is a well of potential that is just waiting to be tapped. It is this high ceiling that could launch him towards becoming one of the best guards in the league and potentially a franchise player.

Some have called Petersons mentality into question, with one Eastern Conference scout recently describing him as having some diva-ness.

However, if Peterson can channel the high school, top recruit, version of himself, he can rise above the critics and establish himself as one of the most talented players entering the NBA.

Petersons elite ability to make defenders miss, create shots, quickly explode past defenders to the rim and drain 3-pointers are his strongest cases for being the first man off the board.

All of his skills, talent and incredibly high ceiling combine to show that Peterson should be the No. 1 overall pick in this years NBA draft.

Who will it be?

Cases can be made and arguments can go back and forth. However, only the Washington Wizards hold the power to answer the 2026 NBA draft's defining question.

How BYU prepared AJ Dybansta in the classroom to be a top draft pick

AJ Dybantsa,nba draft,tyler griffin,Jessica Mullen,2026 NBA Draft,Featured - Sports

Jayden Barney

June 19, 02:58 PM June 19, 03:04 PM

AJ Dybansta's goal is to be No. 1.

During the 2025-2026 season as a freshman at BYU, Dybansta averaged 25.5 points and 6.8 rebounds. His performance on the court has many analysts projecting him as the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA draft, which tips off Tuesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

In the midst of his highlight reels and viral basketball plays, Dybansta was also a student at BYU, attending classes. While being a top-tier basketball player has always been Dybansta's main focus, education is still very important to him.

"AJ is a very smart young man. He handles his business," said Jessica Mullen, the academic advisor for BYU men's and women's basketball.

Mullen has been working as an academic advisor with BYU athletes for the past 17 years. She helps athletes achieve their academic goals while juggling training, traveling and competing in their sport.

In her first meeting with Dybansta, right before he started classes during the 2025 spring term, she could tell that education was important to him.

"It was very clear right from the beginning that this is a high-caliber young man who wants to do the right things, for the right reasons, in the right way," said Mullen.

Months later, in the midst of the basketball season, college basketball announcer Miles Simon shared a conversation he had with Dybansta about his time at BYU.

In that conversation, Dybansta shared that he loved going to class and his favorite class was a Book of Mormon class taught by professor Tyler Griffin.

"That was bizarre. My phone just blew up," said Griffin, reflecting on that moment.

Griffin was Dybansta's professor for the Book of Mormon class during the 2026 winter semester. Griffin recalled the first day of class that semester. Dybansta, along with nine of his teammates, showed up to class.

"To have them all come, that said a lot," said Griffin.

Though Dybansta is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Griffin was able to identify Dybansta's growth as a student in his class and as an athlete.

"You see a quiet confidence in his eyes and in his demeanor he can take charge of a game, he can carry the team on his back, and he can make everybody look good around him that same pattern played out in class," said Griffin.

Dybansta's persistence to go above and beyond is consistent on the court as well as in the classroom. Though Griffin taught an early morning class, Dybansta would still show up to class after late away games.

"On one particular occasion, he arrived late, with only two or three hours of sleep, when it was technically school excused," said Griffin. "He could've watched the Zoom recording, but he came anyway."

BYU's mission to "Go forth and serve" stands right alongside Dybansta's commitment to give back. On top of basketball and school, he started The AJ Dybansta Foundation, focused on empowering and supporting youth of all backgrounds.

"Whatever you're doing off the court, or off the field, or out of the pool all impacts your competition how you do one thing is how you do everything," said Mullen.

Dybansta, soon to be selected in the NBA draft, is still committed to obtaining a degree. Mullen will continue to work with Dybansta to get a degree as he moves into the next stage of his basketball career.