AJ Dybantsa Shares the Special Way He Honored Late Terrence Clarke at NBA Draft (Exclusive)

Natasha Dye, Jordan GreeneThu, June 25, 2026 at 7:29 PM UTC

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AJ Dybantsa; Terrence ClarkeCredit: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire;Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty -

AJ Dybantsa paid tribute to his late friend and mentor Terrence Clarke during the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, June 23

"I wanted to represent TC5, obviously, he couldn't get drafted....so I wanted to show love," Dybantsa tells PEOPLE

Clarke died in 2021 at age 19 after a fatal car crash three months before he was expected to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft

AJ Dybantsa was thinking of late basketball player Terrence Clarke when he became the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Moments before he was selected by the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, June 23, 19-year-old Dybantsa tells PEOPLE it was important to him to sartorially represent his "countries" — his father, Ace, was born in the Republic of Congo before moving to France, and his mother, Chelsea, is from Jamaica — as well as his late mentor and friend, "TC5," referring to Clarke, who tragically died in a car accident in 2021 just three months before the NBA Draft.

Dybantsa says he traveled to Paris for his Draft Day outfit, which included a blue heart pin in honor of Clarke. "I went rainbow face on the watch, and I went ZoFrost on the wrist. I want to represent my countries, and I wanted to represent TC5," he tells PEOPLE.

"Obviously, [Clarke] couldn't get drafted, and I'm from the same city he's from, so I wanted to show love," Dybantsa says.

Both Clarke and Dybantsa are from suburbs outside of Boston, Massachusetts and knew each other since elementary school. In a 2023 interview with On3, Dybantsa said Clarke "was like my big brother."

AJ Dybantsa wears a blue heart pin for Terrence Clarke at 2026 NBA DraftCredit: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty

"You could say that we were cousins — we weren't related, but basically cousins. I was 'little brother' every time he came back."

"That was my idol," he told On3 at the time, adding, "Ever since he passed away, I do the basketball stuff for him. Everything is for him. I'm just trying to carry his legacy."

Dybantsa had the support of his family when his name was called first overall on Tuesday. "I'm international. My mom's from Jamaica and my dad's from Congo, so we have people from all over," he said in an interview after his selection. "But in the greenroom today, it's just my parents, my sisters and my godparents."

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Dybantsa has two sisters: Samarra, 24, and Jasmyn, 19, who joined him on stage after he was picked.

Of getting to live out his NBA dreams, Dybantsa told PEOPLE before his selection that it's "just a blessing."

"Obviously, just countless hours in the gym, so much pain, blood, sweat and tears, and to hear my name get called tonight would be just a blessing."

Clarke became a breakout star at the University of Kentucky before his tragic death in 2021 at age 19. The athlete was driving in Los Angeles, Calif. when he ran a red light, hit another car turning left, and then hit a pole and block wall, police told WKYT at the time.

Clarke was not properly wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident, WKYT reported. The basketball player was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Terrence Clarke of the University of KentuckyCredit: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Just one day before the accident, Clarke and his teammate Brandon Boston Jr. had signed to Klutch Sports agency, and Clarke had recently announced he'd be entering the NBA Draft.

"We are saddened and devastated by the tragic loss of Terrence Clarke," Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN in a statement after the accident. "Terrence was an incredible, hard-working young man. He was excited for what was ahead of him and ready to fulfill his dreams. Our prayers go out to Terrence and his family, who ask for privacy during this difficult time."

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”