AJ Dybantsa, right, poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, left, after being selected by the Washington Wizards as the first pick in the first round of the NBA draft, Tuesday, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

NEW YORK — The Washington Wizards selected forward AJ Dybantsa, who led the nation in scoring in his one season at BYU, with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft on Tuesday night.

Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, highlighted by a 43-point effort that broke BYU’s freshman scoring record.

At 6-foot-9 and 217 pounds, Dybantsa has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant, who happens to be his favorite player. Durant grew up in the Washington area, and Wizards fans can only hope Dybantsa can live up to the comparisons.

They certainly hope he will be better than center Kwame Brown, the pick Washington made in 2001, the first time it had the No. 1 selection after the NBA changed draft formats to eliminate territorial picks in 1966. The Wizards took John Wall in 2010 the other time, and he did turn into an All-Star.

He appeared to say a quick prayer after his name was announced, then went on stage to greet Commissioner Adam Silver and slipped on a black Wizards hat that matched nicely with his black suit.

Dybantsa beat out fellow freshman Darryn Peterson of Kansas, who was taken at the No. 2 pick by Utah. While some thought Peterson had the most talent in the class, the guard missed 11 games during the season because of injuries and illness, potentially creating some questions that Dybantsa didn’t have.

Cameron Boozer, the college player of the year in his one season at Duke, was taken at No. 3 by Memphis. Caleb Wilson, another freshman forward from rival North Carolina, went to Chicago with the next pick.

Those players were the expected top four throughout the pre-draft process, though there was certainly a case for Peterson to go first with his promise. Or for Boozer, with his body of work after he put up 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for Duke, where his father, Carlos, also played before becoming a two-time NBA All-Star.

The uncertainty was expected to begin at No. 5. The Los Angeles Clippers acquired the rights to it after a trade with the Indiana Pacers and used it on Illinois guard Keaton Wagler. The host Brooklyn Nets then went with Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr.

BOOZER GOES THIRD

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Duke forward Cameron Boozer with the third pick, adding another high pick in their latest rebuilding project.

Boozer joins 7-foot-3 center Zach Edey, the ninth overall pick in 2024, and Cedric Coward, the 11th selection a year ago and member of the All-NBA rookie team.

“It’s crazy,” Boozer said of hearing his name called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “It’s a happiness. It’s a joy.”

The 6-8, 253-pound Boozer is the son of former Duke and NBA player Carlos Boozer. He was the fifth freshman voted AP men’s national player of the year. Now Cameron Boozer joins Edey, a two-time AP men’s national player of the year, in Memphis.

Carlos Boozer said his son shows up every single day, and he had some advice for him now.

“Take this moment, enjoy this moment,” Carlos Boozer said. “Obviously be where your feet are. Go enjoy it man, go enjoy it.”

Boozer averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds while helping Duke win 35 games and reach No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll. The Blue Devils claimed the top overall seed for March Madness and reached the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.

He showed the kind of toughness the Grizzlies can use after so many injuries over the past couple seasons. Boozer finished a loss to UConn with 27 points despite suffering multiple facial fractures in the first half.

That helped Boozer prove he can finish through contact shooting 55.6% from the floor and also shot 39.1% from 3-point range. Boozer also is a strong passer (4.1 assists), notably assisting on Isaiah Evans’ late 3-pointer to beat reigning national champion Florida.

The Grizzlies came into this draft as the NBA’s only team with three selections in the top 35. They also hold the No. 16 spot in the first round and No. 32 early in the second round giving general manager Zach Kleiman plenty of flexibility to continue revamping the roster.

Memphis kicked this rebuild into gear last summer trading away Desmond Bane and followed up by trading Jaren Jackson Jr. in February.

The only reason two-time All-Star Ja Morant hasn’t joined that exodus was Memphis could not find a good enough deal for the point guard to close out the three core Grizzlies who were supposed to lead the franchise into the future.

Memphis still is expected to move on from Morant with the guard playing only 79 games combined over the last three seasons. Morant could be packaged as part of a move up in this draft by the Grizzlies with two years left on his current contract.

The Grizzlies moved up from sixth to third in the lottery after finishing 25-57 and missing the playoffs for the second time in three years. That record makes it difficult to get a read on coach Tuomas Iisalo, and whether his time in European basketball will translate to NBA success.

Memphis also has shooting guard Jaylen Wells, who has started 143 of 148 games in his first two seasons. He joined Edey on the NBA’s All-Rookie team, and veteran Ty Jerome was added a year ago as another guard option.