AJ Dybantsa Says Market Size Won’t Influence His Decision as He Leads 2026 Mock Drafts
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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, widely projected as the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, says the size of the city that drafts him is irrelevant to his plans. “It wasn’t really about the market size,” the 19-year-old told The Athletic. “Everything that’s coming, when it comes to marketing, comes if I do me on the court.”
Dybantsa noted he grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts (population 106,000) and currently plays in Provo, Utah (about 115,000 residents), underscoring that smaller markets have never deterred him.
Combine Update
International forward Malique Lewis was withheld from the NBA G League Elite Camp after failing to secure medical clearance because of a pre-existing heart condition, agent Omar Samham told DraftExpress. The 6’8” Trinidad and Tobago native, 21, has spent the past two seasons with the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Australia’s NBL. His condition has long been documented, and he has previously been cleared to play in Spain, for the Mexico City Capitanes in the G League, and in the NBL. Lewis, who attended the 2024 and 2025 G League combines, expects to participate in future events once cleared.
In the first scrimmage of the Elite Camp, USC forward Jacob Cofie, Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Israeli guard Noam Yaacov stood out, according to DraftExpress analysts.
Updated Mock Draft
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor released a new 2026 mock draft that keeps Dybantsa at No. 1, followed by Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Darryn Peterson, and Darius Acuff. O’Connor ranks guard Dailyn Swain 12th and forward Allen Graves 16th—both higher than most projections—while sliding forward Hannes Steinbach to 22nd and center Jayden Quaintance to 29th.
Source: Hoops Rumors
