PROVO, Utah – BYU’s Robert Wright III was one of 20 NCAA Division I men’s basketball players named to the Naismith Starting 5 – Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List on Monday morning.
Wright III is one of five players from the Big 12 on the list, joined by Houston’s Milos Uzan, Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson.
| 2026 Naismith Starting 5 - Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List | |
| Name | School |
| Labaron Philon Jr. | Alabama |
| Darius Acuff Jr. | Arkansas |
| Tahaad Pettiford | Auburn |
| Robert Wright III | BYU |
| Boogie Fland | Florida |
| Milos Uzan | Houston |
| Bennett Stirtz | Iowa |
| Tamin Lipsey | Iowa State |
| Darry Peterson | Kansas |
| Jaland Lowe | Kentucky |
| Mikel Brown Jr. | Louisville |
| Elliot Cadeau | Michigan |
| Josh Hubbard | Mississippi State |
| Markus Burton | Notre Dame |
| Bruce Thornton | Ohio State |
| Braden Smith | Purdue |
| Ja'Kobi Gillespie | Tennessee |
| Christian Anderson | Texas Tech |
| Donovan Dent | UCLA |
| Silas Demary Jr. | UConn |
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point during the 2025-26 season
Wright III, a 6-foot-1 guard, finished with 12 points, five assists and a steal in BYU’s exhibition win over No. 25 North Carolina on Friday evening at the Delta Center. The sophomore was instrumental for the Cougars down the stretch, finding Kennard Davis Jr. in the corner for a 3-pointer to break a deadlock before scoring the final four points of the game, including knocking down a pair of free throws with under 25 seconds remaining in regulation.
In 16 minutes of action at Nebraska, Wrigth III had eight points and five assists, going 2-of-4 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
another angle 🤳 https://t.co/GxQPZDwtJ3 pic.twitter.com/TXjyblU1nM
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) October 25, 2025
The Wilmington, Del. native transferred to BYU after spending his freshman season at Baylor where helped the Bears advance to the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament. In his lone season in Waco, Wright III broke freshman records for most assists in a single-season (148) and single-game (13).
The Cougars open the 2025-26 season on Monday, Nov. 3, when they face-off against Villanova at the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas. Tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT on TNT, TruTV and HBO Max.
About the Bob Cousy Award
The annual Bob Cousy Award, named after the Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard, celebrates its 23rd year by highlighting the top point guard in Division I men’s college basketball.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, October 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected. The selection committees are composted of top men’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2026 Bob Cousy Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Men’s Starting Five.