Washington Wizards Draft Jamaican-Heritage Forward AJ Dybantsa at No. 1

The Washington Wizards took forward AJ Dybantsa with the first overall selection in Tuesday night's NBA Draft.

Dybantsa played one season at Brigham Young University (BYU), finishing as the nation's top scorer at 25.5 points per game. In his freshman year, he posted 43 points in a single game—a total that stands as BYU's freshman scoring record.

At 6 feet 9 inches, Dybantsa has Jamaican roots through his mother. As he enters the professional ranks, he said he feels honoured to be spoken about in the same company as some of basketball's all-time greats.

The 19-year-old said his goals stretch beyond helping a Wizards team that has struggled in recent seasons. He also wants to support the communities that helped shape him, including Jamaica and Congo, which he described as his heritage countries.

Speaking on Good Morning America, Dybantsa outlined his aim to use his platform to make a difference both on the court and away from it.