Patrick Ewing Joins Elite Group as AJ Dybantsa Eyes NBA Draft
Patrick Ewing, the NBA basketball athlete from Jamaica, is part of an elite group of Massachusetts products to be selected No. 1 overall. On June 21, 2026, AJ Dybantsa is on the verge of joining Ewing and Jimmy Walker as the only Massachusetts products to achieve this feat.
AJ Dybantsa is at the top of most experts' lists entering the NBA Draft. If his name is called first, he'll join Patrick Ewing in 1985 and Jimmy Walker in 1967 as the only Massachusetts products to be selected No. 1 overall.
Patrick Ewing's mother moved their family to Cambridge from Jamaica when he was 12. Ewing earned his reputation at Cambridge Rindge and Latin, shifting the NBA once he arrived. The league's television deal with CBS nearly quadrupled in value in 1985.
AJ Dybantsa seemed to understand his position in the time and lineage of Massachusetts basketball. He navigated a unique path that took him from Massachusetts to California to Utah and now to the NBA. Dybantsa wants to be a guy that people know where Brockton is on the map.
For more than a half-century, the pipeline from Massachusetts to the NBA essentially went through high schools. But in the 2000s, the landscape shifted, with Massachusetts becoming a pipeline for NBA talent from around the country. Since 2001, nearly 30 players were drafted with ties to Massachusetts.
The last time a Massachusetts-born-and-raised player had his name called at the NBA Draft was five years ago, with Terrence Clarke being honored as a ceremonial pick. Clarke was projected to be a first-round pick in 2021 before a fatal car crash in Los Angeles.
AJ Dybantsa is different from Ewing and Walker, as he's the only one of the three who was actually born in Massachusetts. Ewing and Walker had unique paths to the NBA, with Ewing earning his reputation at Cambridge Rindge and Latin and Walker being discovered by Celtics legends Sam Jones and Satch Sanders.
On June 21, 2026, the NBA Draft will take place, and AJ Dybantsa is expected to be a top pick. If he's selected No. 1 overall, he'll join Patrick Ewing and Jimmy Walker as the only Massachusetts products to achieve this feat. The draft will be a significant moment for Massachusetts basketball, with Dybantsa representing the state's rich basketball tradition.
The NBA Draft is a culmination of hard work and dedication for AJ Dybantsa. He's worked his way up the ranks, from Massachusetts to California to Utah, and now he's on the verge of achieving his dream. Patrick Ewing, Jimmy Walker, and other Massachusetts products have paved the way for Dybantsa, and he's ready to make his mark on the NBA.
As the NBA Draft approaches, AJ Dybantsa is focused on his goal. He wants to be a role model for young basketball players in Massachusetts, showing them that they can achieve their dreams with hard work and determination. Patrick Ewing, Jimmy Walker, and other Massachusetts products have inspired Dybantsa, and he's ready to inspire the next generation of basketball players.
The wait is almost over for AJ Dybantsa, as the NBA Draft is just around the corner. On June 21, 2026, he'll find out if he'll be selected No. 1 overall, joining Patrick Ewing and Jimmy Walker as the only Massachusetts products to achieve this feat. The NBA Draft will be a significant moment for Dybantsa, and he's ready to make his mark on the league.