For the first time since 1984, BYU could have two players selected in this week’s NBA draft.
AJ Dybantsa is considered the favorite to be taken with the first overall pick, while Richie Saunders is expected to hear his name called in the top half of the second round.
Even so, there is no shortage of possibilities as to where the two Cougar stars will end up. Here’s a look at where some of the most notable mock drafts project Dybantsa and Saunders to be playing later this year.
Where AJ Dybantsa is projected to be drafted
- Jeremy Woo, ESPN: No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards
- Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo Sports: No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards
- Cameron Salerno, CBS Sports: No. 2 overall to the Utah Jazz
- Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report: No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards
- Kevin Sweeney, Sports Illustrated: No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards
- Zach Harper, The Athletic (chaos edition): No. 3 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies
What Woo said: “Dybantsa would give Washington a scorer who puts immense pressure on the paint, an element currently missing from its roster.”
What O’Connor said: “Dybantsa could become one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shot creators. At 6-foot-9, he has a special blend of athletic tools with the way he bends, shifts and explodes with the ball in his hands ... In Washington, the pressure will be alleviated on him early in his career, now that he’s teammates with veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
“... (Dybantsa’s) upside will be determined by whether he can become a knockdown 3-point shooter, as well as a more impactful defender to take full advantage of his physical tools. But even with those areas for improvement, Dybantsa has an MVP ceiling.”
What Salerno said: “The Jazz would have their vision fulfilled when Dybantsa arrived to the state of Utah as a high school senior at Utah Prep if he is available here. If Peterson is off the board, Dybantsa would be the most logical pick at 2. It’s hard to see Utah passing on him.”
What Wasserman said: “Dybantsa’s positional size, advanced footwork for creation, high-level shotmaking, 25.5 points per game and competitiveness suggest he may be too rare of a scoring prospect to pass on.”
What Sweeney said: "The Wizards have kept the league guessing on their selection more than the average draft, with the door still open for Darryn Peterson in particular to be the choice over Dybantsa. But at this stage, it’s still fair to call Dybantsa the favorite to come off the board first. His intensity and scoring instincts align with the types of players Washington’s leadership have coveted in recent years."
What Harper said: “What an incredible win for the Grizzlies in this chaos scenario. Dybantsa is the best player in the class. I understand people who believe in Peterson more, but the measurables with the athleticism and the game of Dybantsa put him over the top for me. The Grizzlies have so many good, young role players, but Dybantsa gives them a clear view of the timeline. They’d have a young star to build around.”
Where Richie Saunders is projected to be drafted
- Jeremy Woo, ESPN: No. 33 overall to the Brooklyn Nets
- Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo Sports: No. 31 overall to the New York Knicks
- Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report: No. 40 overall to the Boston Celtics
- Kevin Sweeney, Sports Illustrated: No. 36 overall to the Los Angeles Clippers
- Zach Harper, The Athletic (chaos edition): No. 26 overall to the Denver Nuggets
What O’Connor said: “Saunders is a hard-nosed, two-way wing who plays with manic energy, hustling around the floor hunting for steals on defense and jumpers on offense. The team that gets him knows exactly what they’re gonna get out of him. He’s also skilled, though, with a quick-trigger jumper, soft touch on floaters, and a feel for moving the ball. With less than ideal size and athleticism, he more likely projects as a solid role player.”
What Wasserman said: “A torn ACL ended Richie Saunders’ career at BYU. From a draft-stock perspective, there wasn’t much left for him to sell teams on. The injury shouldn’t factor into the equation, with the assumption he wasn’t expected to play many NBA minutes next year, anyway. He’ll be an option for a team that sees a shooting specialist and finds value in the second round.”
What Sweeney said: “Saunders is arguably the best shooter in this draft, with deep range and a rare ability to shoot off movement at an elite level. He’ll be 25 years old when he makes his NBA debut this fall and is coming off an ACL tear, but it’s not hard to envision a shooter like Saunders finding a way to impact the game off the bench once he’s healthy. His measurements and past production look similar to Max Strus, who has blossomed into a strong piece for the Cavaliers.”
What Harper said: “Saunders is not a great athlete and is recovering from a big knee injury. But he can flat-out shoot the ball. If he’s on the floor with Nikola Jokić, the big man will find him. As soon as it hits his fingertips, you can cash that in. He’s a smart player, too, and at 25 years old by the time the season starts, he’s ready to play right now.”
