As was expected, the top of the 2026 NBA Draft Tuesday evening had a very Utah flair.
First, former BYU Cougars phenom AJ Dybantsa was selected first overall by the Washington Wizards. Immediately after that, the Utah Jazz selected former Kansas Jayhawks star Darryn Peterson second overall.
Fans of BYU and the Jazz, as well as other observers of the draft, chimed in on social media about both picks. Here is a smattering of those reactions.
A moment @AJ_Dybantsa will never forget 📽️ pic.twitter.com/YoKS1eKPaa
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) June 24, 2026
the moment dreams are made of 💜#TakeNote | @Darryn_P1 pic.twitter.com/Vkl7rPVzqY
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 24, 2026
PROvo. Congrats @AJ_Dybantsa! #GoCougs
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) June 24, 2026
So cool for AJ. So cool for BYU.
— LJ ⛳ (@LJLewis_11) June 24, 2026
Let’s goooo! https://t.co/coWdNSVboJ
— Justin Young (@JustinDYoung) June 24, 2026
Last year @whoisegor3 was drafted at 7:04pm MST. Seconds later I got a FaceTime from @AJ_Dybantsa the night before a U19 World Cup game. It was 3:04am in Switzerland and all he could talk about was how the draft motivated him to be #1. A year later…here we are! Proud of you two! pic.twitter.com/YU4sK3kb92
— Brandon Dunson (@BMDunson) June 24, 2026
There was NO chance that Austin and Danny Ainge were passing on a talent like Darryn Peterson. https://t.co/nHRmc1xwdB
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 24, 2026
From the moment the envelope was opened.
— Avremi Zippel (@UtahRabbi) June 24, 2026
Welcome to Utah, DP. #TakeNote https://t.co/S9TCJ7Jcnc
A NEW BIG THREE IN WASHINGTON 👀
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 24, 2026
How many games will the Wizards win next season? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/RZeOtaCnON
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) June 24, 2026
WELCOME TO THE DYSTRICT🧙♂️ #ForTheDistrict | @AJ_Dybantsa pic.twitter.com/ACZhphmTnq
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) June 24, 2026
I don’t think he’s Kobe. I’m not sure there’s a comp out there that makes sense. But he’s gonna be a GREAT player for Utah.
— Jake Lee (@JakeLeei) June 24, 2026
Thoughts on Utah’s new core after drafting Darryn Peterson? 👀 pic.twitter.com/ceHWsg7cFG
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 24, 2026
First official look at AJ Dybantsa as a Wizard: pic.twitter.com/4B1QR5ImFC
— CALLED IT. (@calledit_media) June 24, 2026
“I am grateful for the belief and trust that Adidas has in me,” says Darryn Peterson. “They were the first to commit to me and showed how much they still believe in me with this new deal. I am a loyal person and am excited to stay in the Adidas family.”
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) June 24, 2026
In 2023, Peterson became… https://t.co/3zotuo1XHz
LETS GOOO JAZZ!!! Great pick!!!
— Jeremy Olsen (@JeremyOlsen41) June 24, 2026
Key
— Jeff Hansen (@rakoto10) June 24, 2026
Darryn
Ace
Lauri
JJJ
Walker
Brice
JAZZ BASKETBALL IS BACK
So proud of this young man! The @WashWizards are getting a star. What a moment for @AJ_Dybantsa, his family and @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/WJhGoNEN0L
— Will Voigt (@CoachWillVoigt) June 24, 2026
Are the Jazz back? #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/BPqHj4eMZq
— LJ ⛳ (@LJLewis_11) June 24, 2026
Kansas Jayhawk. Utah Jazz.@Darryn_P1 x @utahjazz pic.twitter.com/zHBLHPZi7h
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) June 24, 2026
take care of my guy @WashWizards🫡 pic.twitter.com/9WdNIeaD4z
— Cosmo Cougar (@cosmo_cougar) June 24, 2026
HOME RUN!!!! ONE OF THE GREATEST DAYS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR FRANCHISE!!!
— Bruno Starzz Drive (@getsit) June 24, 2026
"[The Utah Jazz] get a prospect who may have the highest upside in this draft."@AdamFinkelstein gives the Utah Jazz an A for selecting Darryn Peterson at No. 2 overall. pic.twitter.com/awjMZ7xJQJ
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 24, 2026
— JJJ (@jarenjacksonjr) June 24, 2026
"It just means a lot. ... Obviously I have a lot more work to do, but a testament to all my hard work and all the discipline and sacrifices that I make."
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 24, 2026
AJ Dybantsa sits down with @saltersl after being drafted No. 1 to the Wizards 🏀 pic.twitter.com/bfdB9w0c57
Welcome to Utah! 💜🩵 https://t.co/UejE1D6CI7
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) June 24, 2026
WITH THE SECOND PICK IN THE 2026 NBA DRAFT
— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2026
THE UTAH JAZZ SELECT… DARRYN PETERSON 👏 pic.twitter.com/sBIFOg8tmZ
Goodbye best freshman class of all time. pic.twitter.com/x3znJAgsGS
— Trilly Donovan (@trillydonovan) June 24, 2026