Mostly, his answer is simply “yes.”

Dybantsa, who set the college basketball world on fire with a fantastic freshman season at BYU and led the country in scoring (25.5 points per game), shared once that his last name translated from Greek meaning “undefeated.”

Throughout his life — from grade school and on to college, guided by his savvy and watchful father, Ace — Dybantsa has reached just about every goal he’s set.

On Tuesday night, he could become the first BYU player to be taken at the top of the NBA Draft.

“I’m super confident in myself being the No. 1 pick. But you never know. There’s been crazy stuff that happens on draft night,” Dybantsa told USA TODAY Sports.

Dybantsa and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson are generally considered the top two players in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Washington Wizards have the first pick, the Utah Jazz the second.

The gamesmanship between the two teams, the players and their agents have created a pretty intriguing run-up to the big moment at Barclays Center in New Jersey. Both sides believe they should be the No. 1 pick.

The two players have gone back and forth in mock drafts as the No. 1 choice. Dybantsa is 6-foot-9 with a skill set perfectly tailored for the NBA and never missed a single college game. Peterson is an elite shooting guard but health issues and mysterious DNP’s (did not play) have created some questions about his mental toughness.

Dybantsa grew up on the east coast in Brockton, Mass., and is comfortable in the Beehive State after playing his final year of high school ball at Utah Prep and his only season in college in Provo. So either location seems to fit.

It all comes to a head Tuesday night when Commissioner Adam Silver says, “With the first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select …”

Or, maybe there’s a trade and some other team has the No. 1 selection.

Who really knows?

“Outside of the draft night, what pick you are doesn’t matter,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said. “It’s more about what you do when get there. I think AJ is the best player in the draft. I’ve made that very clear over the last year. You just don’t find his level of size, athleticism and his skill set. So whoever takes AJ, I’ll instantly become a fan of that team. I love AJ and I loved coaching him. I can’t wait to see him in the NBA.”

Dybantsa won’t be the only former Cougar that will hear his name called in Brooklyn.

Senior guard Richie Saunders has been consistently mentioned as a second-round prospect, even sneaking into the bottom of the first round in some mock drafts. Saunders is still recovering from an ACL injury suffered late in the college season.

“They (NBA teams) are going to learn quickly,” Saunders told Kevin O’Connor on Yahoo! Sports NBA. “I put my whole heart and soul into this game. I love playing basketball. I love doing the things that impact winning. I shoot the ball and I know how to get offensive rebounds, how to guard. I’m honestly excited to get to this next level. One, to be able to hoops again and two, to be able to just grow. I think I can bring a lot of experience and just the details is where I live.”

Young was one of the first to promote Saunders as an NBA prospect and hasn’t backed off that belief at all.

“I don’t think the injury will be of any concern,” Young said on BYU Sports Nation. “If anything, teams are getting him at a bargain of a price. Richie is as relaxed as I’ve ever seen him. He’s an intense dude but it’s fun to see him taking everything in stride. My phone is non-stop with him and a ton of teams like him.

“One thing as it pertains to guys that play a role in the NBA, can you space the floor? Can you knock shots down? Can you play out of a close out? Analytically speaking, Richie is one of the best close out players in the country. NBA teams want guys like Richie to make shots and decisions at a high level, but he does so much more. He’s great at finishing and his rebounding is tremendous, plus he can guard multiple positions.”

A third BYU player, forward Keba Keita, likely won’t be drafted but has been praised for his workouts and will find himself in camp for some team this fall.

“I’m super excited for AJ and Richie and Keba, honestly,” Young said. “He’s had some great pre-draft workouts as well. Everywhere I go I see people talking about him. He’s someone that has helped himself in the process.”

2026 NBA Draft

When: Tuesday 6 p.m. MT (first round), Wednesday 6 p.m. MT (second round)

Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

TV: ESPN/ABC

The Word: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson are battling it out to be the No. 1 selection in the draft. … The Washington Wizards have the No. 1 pick, the Utah Jazz No. 2. … This is the 80th edition of the NBA Draft and the first since 2021 with 60 total picks, as no teams have forfeited second-round selections for free agency violations.