In the midst of a challenging stretch, BYU is leaning heavily on Rob Wright III’s leadership. Thankfully for the Cougars, Wright’s experience as the eldest of ten siblings has equipped him well for this increased responsibility.
Cougars on the Air
- Matchup: No. 23 BYU (19-7, 7-6) vs.
No. 6 Iowa State (23-3, 10-3)
- When: Saturday, 8:30 p.m. MDT
- Where: Marriott Center
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: BYU Radio 107.9 FM / BYURadio.org / BYU Radio app
Wright shared on the “BYU Basketball with Kevin Young” show how his family background parallels his role as a point guard. “You have to learn how to relate with so many different people,” he explained, highlighting the similarities.
Wright is on a hot streak, averaging 22 points over the last six games, with standout performances of 30 and 39 points, while hitting 54% from beyond the arc. His first season in Provo has been stellar, with averages of 18.5 points, 4.8 assists, and nearly 46% shooting from three-point range.
His most famous shot this season came in December at Madison Square Garden, where he hit a buzzer-beater to clinch a comeback win over Clemson, a moment etched in BYU lore and witnessed by his family.
Reflecting on that game, Wright said, “It was super crazy. My whole family was there because it was close to home. So just to have an experience like that and have an opportunity like that, it’s amazing.”
Before his heroics at BYU, Wright was a thorn in their side as a Baylor freshman, scoring 22 points with six assists and four rebounds at the Marriott Center, pushing BYU to overtime.
BYU coach Kevin Young noted Wright’s growth since then, saying, “He’s been able to grow from his experience in our league last year. We talked about how much more efficient he’s playing this year.”
After earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and All-Freshman honors at Baylor, Wright transferred to BYU, seeking a new environment. “I was kind of looking for something new,” Wright said.
“It’s been great. Obviously, we’ve had some adversity this season with a lot of injuries.
But I mean, it’s been a good experience for me, the fans have been great.”
With BYU’s season at a crossroads, having lost six of its last nine games, Wright’s leadership is crucial, especially after Richie Saunders’ ACL injury. Coach Young expressed confidence in Wright, saying, “I sleep great at night knowing that the ball is in his hands.”
Wright embraces the challenge ahead, with BYU facing No. 6 Iowa State and four Quad 1 opportunities in their remaining games.
“(It’s exciting) still having a huge opportunity in front of us,” Wright said. “The season is not close to being over.
We could build some momentum going into March.”