After entering the transfer portal April 8 and taking a visit to Kentucky Monday and Tuesday, Rob Wright is returning to BYU for his junior season. Sources tell me Rob Wright told BYU Tuesday, and the news was announced today.
Rob’s return gives BYU a returning starter for next season and one of the most sought after point guards in college basketball. 247 Sports had Rob rated as the #6 overall rated player in the portal and #1 point guard. Rob forms a starting nucleus with Collin Chandler and Bruce Branch as BYU continues to add a starting four man and center. Rob also gives BYU some much needed continuity from last season and will have a second year running Kevin Young’s system.
Rob has his lapses in defenses and will need to show a role as a more consistent playmaker with AJ gone, but he is one of the most dynamic guards in college basketball and ensures BYU should be a top half team in the Big 12 next season. Rob was Third-Team All Big 12 this season, averaging 18.1 points and 4.6 assists on 47% shooting from the floor and 41% from three.
With no AJ Dybantsa on the roster, Rob will be the lead playmaker and be asked to continue to score at a high level and involve his teammates more. Rob should be able to operate with more spacing than he did last year as BYU surrounds him with shooters and potentially a big man that can be more involved in PNR situations.
Ultimately, Rob wanted to stay at BYU and with Kevin Young. He’s enjoyed his time in Provo, but his camp wanted to test the waters to see if they could get a bigger NIL payday.
Outside of what he’ll provide on the court, Rob went up a few notches in BYU lore by spurning Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats.
