BYU guard Robert Wright III was named to the Naismith Starting 5 – Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List on Monday morning. This marks the second consecutive season the 6-foot-1 floor general has appeared on the preseason list.
The Wilmington, Del., native recently contributed 19 points, four assists, and two steals during BYU's 89-77 exhibition victory over UNLV on Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas. During that game, Wright III went 3-of-5 from the field in the second half, including two successful attempts from behind the arc. This performance followed a 17-point outing during an exhibition victory over Nebraska on Oct. 16, where Wright III also recorded seven assists and five rebounds.
During his sophomore season in Provo, Wright III averaged 18.1 points per game and ranked second on the team in scoring. He recorded 162 assists, which was the 10th most assists in a single season in program history. Additionally, he earned CSC Third Team Academic All-American honors and recorded a 10-point, 11-assist performance in a victory over No. 23 Wisconsin at the Delta Center.
The Bob Cousy Award celebrates the top point guard in Division I men's college basketball. The preseason watch list of 20 players will be narrowed to 10 in late January and to five finalists in late February. The winner will be selected by a committee of media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
In other sports news, the No. 11 BYU women's volleyball team was named the 2026 Big 12 Volleyball In-Season Challenge champion on Monday afternoon. The challenge, which runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 1, recognizes the team with the best overall record in conference matches played during that 31-day period. BYU clinched the title following wins over No. 25 Colorado and No. 8 Arizona State last week.
In golf, BYU sophomore Kihei Akina tied for 17th at 10-under par at the PGA Tour's Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Akina's performance came after the event was shortened to 54 holes due to high winds. Akina, along with former Cougar Zac Blair and alumnus Patrick Fishburn, is scheduled to compete in the PGA Tour's VidantaWorld Mexico Open beginning Thursday, Oct. 29.
