BYU Cougars head men’s basketball coach Kevin Young has on multiple occasions called his starting point guard, Robert Wright III, the best player at his position in the entire country.
Last week, Sports Illustrated college basketball reporter Kevin Sweeney wrote lists of his top 10 players at each position in the nation — along with 10 others to watch at each position — and while Wright isn’t No. 1 on his point guard list, the senior is ranked highly.
In addition to Wright, one other player at a Utah school was on one of Sweeney’s top 10 lists, while four other players with Beehive State ties were among players to watch at various positions.
Wright landed at No. 4 on Sweeney’s point guard list, with Sweeney writing, “Wright tested the (transfer) portal this spring but elected to return to BYU, where he’ll step out of AJ Dybantsa’s shadow and serve as the top offensive weapon for the Cougars in 2026–27.
“He had a very strong first season in Provo, averaging nearly 18 points per game and shooting 41% from distance. He has a real chance to lead the Big 12 in scoring this season, though he’ll need to take some strides defensively if he wants to help the Cougars compete at the top of the conference.”
Meanwhile, Utah State’s Mason Falslev landed at No. 5 on Sweeney’s shooting guard list. Wrote Sweeney: “Falslev may be the best story in college basketball, showing remarkable loyalty to Utah State despite going through three coaching changes.
“He’s back for his senior year to play for Ben Jacobson, the longtime Northern Iowa head man who managed to convince Falslev to linger in Logan despite interest from some of the biggest programs in the sport. Falslev is a hyper-efficient offensive player and the ultimate winner; he has taken Utah State to the NCAA tournament in each of the last three seasons.”
Also at shooting guard, BYU’s Collin Chandler, a Beehive State native who joined the Cougars after transferring from Kentucky in the spring, is on Sweeney’s list of 10 other players to watch.
At small forward, BYU freshman phenom Bruce Branch III is on the 10 other players to watch list, as was former Cougar Kanon Catchings, who played his freshman season in Provo and is entering his second season at Georgia.
At power forward, former Utah Runnin’ Ute Keanu Dawes is on the other players to watch list. Dawes is now at Kansas after playing the last two seasons at Utah (he began his collegiate career at Rice).