BYU’s Rob Wright III put on a scoring show Friday night that turned heads even in a summer setting, pouring in 101 points in Utah’s Powder League and setting a league record.
The performance came in the state’s top Pro-Am circuit, where college players have been a regular presence in recent years. The league, which says on its website that it “has brought local players, college legends, and professional stars together throughout Utah” since 2020, has become a summer stage for players to get game reps and stay sharp.
Wright III had already flashed his scoring touch in the same league last month, when he dropped 45 points in another Powder League game. Friday was a different level entirely. The competition is nowhere close to what he’ll see at BYU next season, but the outburst still underscored how quickly he can pile up points when he gets rolling.
That kind of production matters for the Cougars because Wright III is expected to be the primary engine of the offense in 2026-2027. Kevin Young has made it clear he believes the junior guard is ready for a major leap.
"I enjoy coaching Rob. He's a great young man," Young said last month.
"I think he's going to be the best point guard in college basketball as we enter this next season. With his experience, I really was impressed with his level of improvement from his freshman year to his sophomore year, particularly in our style of play."
Young also said he expects Wright to make a "big jump" as a junior.
"I think he's really matured," Young said in the same interview. "I think he's primed to take on a just a bigger role across the spectrum of our team. And that doesn't necessarily mean scoring, just playmaking, leadership, defense, you know, he's a guy I think that's really ready to make a big jump, so we couldn't have been more thrilled to get him back."
Wright III entered the transfer portal after the 2025-2026 season, then took a visit to Kentucky before choosing to return to BYU for his junior year. Now back in Provo, he’ll be tasked with helping lead the Cougars back to the NCAA Tournament.
The roster around him is still taking shape, but as things stand, Wright III is the only starter from last season projected to return for 2026-2027. BYU still needs a starting center to replace Keba Keita. Outside of that spot, the expected starters are Rob Wright, Collin Chandler, and Bruce Branch, with Jake Wahlin and Tyler Betsey also in the mix for a starting job.
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Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick has made clear he believes Finau is ready for the challenge, but the real test comes once the pads go on and the competition turns live. For BYU, the concern is less about whether Finau has the tools to help and more about how quickly he can settle in and hold up over the course of the season, because the answer there could shape the entire front five. [Read more 🡒]