Rob Wright is running it back at BYU.
After briefly entering the transfer portal and visiting other schools, the star point guard elected to remain in Provo for his second season with the Cougars, marking Kevin Young’s biggest win of the offseason thus far.
In Wright, BYU has “the best point guard in college basketball,” as Young called him, who the Cougars will build around in an effort to go deeper in 2027’s NCAA Tournament.
Wright appeared on BYUtv’s “BYU Sports Nation” show Tuesday to discuss his return to the program and more. Here are some of the most notable highlights.
On his decision to stay at BYU rather than transfer elsewhere
“Ultimately, I just wanted to play for KY. I didn’t think I wanted to play for another coach.
“... I came here, I was a transfer student, and (BYU) really just embraced me. I was just super appreciative of that, and it was really a big thought flowing through my mind. I didn’t know if I wanted to go to a new place and experience something else when I had a great year here, on and off the court.”
On his relationship with Kevin Young
“Me and him were talking a lot throughout the (transfer portal) process. He always told me he got my back no matter what decision I chose.
“Our relationship has grown a lot, just because last year, I had just gotten here, so we were just kind of figuring each other out. Then towards the end of the year, we really started clicking. So I just feel like coming into this year, we’ll be a lot stronger and on the same page.”
“... I feel like he’s helped me (develop) a lot. It was a lot of film sessions after practice, just watching other great guards he coached like Chris Paul, people of that nature. So I’m really just trying to pick my spots and he really just wants me to focus on just helping my teammates be better as well as myself.”
On the rest of BYU’s roster taking shape around him
“I’m feeling great about it. Me and (Young) talked about that in the end of our meeting, and obviously you can see who he’s bringing in. He’s (doing) exactly what he said he was going to do. I think now we’re just looking for a big.”
On becoming more of a passer
“Last year, obviously, we had a lot of injuries, so we lost a lot of shooting. We lost Dawson (Baker) early, who was probably our highest (3-point) percentage shooter at the time.
“Losing him kind of hurt, so we had to change a lot of our roles. But I feel like this year, we just got so much shooting, so even if something was to happen, we’ll still be good and I’ll be able to spray out (to other guys).”
On what BYU’s offense could look like next year
“I think it would be a lot different. Me and Coach talked about that a lot. I think this year the ball will move a lot more.
“We kind of had two ball-dominant people (last year), which were both very talented in me and AJ (Dybantsa), but at times the ball would get stagnant, and other guys would just be out there watching us. But I feel like this year will be more of, like, a team.”
On how BYU’s first round NCAA Tournament loss could impact this coming season
“I think it’s motivated all of us. (BYU) went to the Sweet 16 (in 2025), and I went to the round of 32 (at Baylor). So this year, losing in the first round, it wasn’t a pleasant feeling, and I was obviously very upset about that. This year, we’re coming in with a goal to go further in March than we did.”
On feeling part of the BYU family
“It means a lot to me. I’m super big on family, so obviously being this far from my family sometimes kind of hurts, but I feel like BYU, it’s a great support system here.
“And obviously I just feel like everyone around the staff, to the people, to the program, they just all have been like a family to me and have just really embraced me.”
On the status of his tooth injury from the Big 12 tournament
“I got another dentist appointment on the 4th of May, so hopefully, I get it 100 percent fixed.”
