Wright III finds himself on the preseason list for a second consecutive season as the 6-foot-1 floor general is one of three players from the Big 12 named to the list, joined by Houston’s Dedan Thomas Jr. and West Virginia’s Miles Sadler.

The native of Wilmington, Del. had 19 points, four assists and two steals in 29 minutes of action in BYU’s 89-77 victory over UNLV in an exhibition on Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas. After trailing by as much as 12 in the first half, Wright III went 3-of-5 from the field in the second half, including knocking down both his attempts from behind the arc as the Cougars outscored the Runnin’ Rebels 48-35 over the final 20 minutes.

In the Cougars’ 72-61 exhibition victory over Nebraska on Oct. 16, Wright III scored 10 of his 17 points in the second half as BYU overcame a four-point halftime deficit to avenge last season’s loss to the Cornhuskers in Lincoln. The junior also had seven assists and five rebounds.

During his sophomore season in Provo, Wright III ranked second on the team in scoring at 18.1 points per game while dishing out the 10th most assists in a single season in program history, 162. He scored in double figures in 32 of his 35 starts for the Cougars while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, 41.0 percent from the field and 82.1 percent from the free throw line.

He earned CSC Third Team Academic All-American honors for his work on-and-off the court, recording a pair of double-doubles highlighted by his 10-point, 11-assist performance in BYU’s 28-point victory over No. 23 Wisconsin at the Delta Center. The win over the Badgers is the third-largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in program history.

About the Bob Cousy Award

The annual Bob Cousy Award, named after the Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtics and Holy Cross guard, celebrates its 24th year by highlighting the top point guard in Division I men’s college basketball.

In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 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 composed of top men’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.

The winner of the 2027 Bob Cousy Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Men’s Starting Five.

Volleyball receivers conference honor

No. 11 BYU women’s volleyball has been crowned the 2026 Big 12 Volleyball In-Season Challenge champion, the conference announced on Monday afternoon.

Running from Oct. 1 through Nov. 1, the challenge recognizes the team with the best overall record in conference matches played during the 31-day period.

The Cougars (17-1, 9-0 Big 12) have gone 8-0 in October. With one match remaining in the challenge, Friday’s matchup against Utah, BYU has clinched the title. Wins over No. 25 Colorado and No. 8 Arizona State last week helped secure the championship.

During the challenge, BYU has won five road matches and hit .310 and holding its opponents to a .152 clip. The Cougars limited Houston and West Virginia to hitting percentages below .100.

Elli Mortensen has led BYU offensively during the month, recording 109 kills at 4.04 per set while hitting .300. Four other Cougars have hit above .300 during the challenge: Brooke Hardy (.402, 52 kills), Kelli Jo Burgess (.366, 36 kills), Kate Prior (.330, 51 kills) and Claire Little Chambers (.306, 96 kills).

Setters Alex Bower (5.89 assists per set) and Kaylie Kofe (5.33 assists per set) have helped BYU average 14.7 kills per set. Lulu Po’uha leads the team with 82 digs, averaging 3.04 per set.

Burgess, the nation’s leader in blocks per set at 1.89, has averaged two blocks per set during the challenge, totaling 54. Hardy has added 29 blocks at 1.07 per set.

BYU will close out October and its In-Season Challenge schedule against in-state foe Utah on Friday, Oct. 30, at 6:30 p.m. MT on ESPN+.

Akina keeps rolling

BYU men’s golfer Kihei Akina (66-67-70-203) tied for 17th at 10-under par Saturday at the PGA Tour’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course.

The sophomore earned his third top-25 finish in a PGA Tour event after making his fourth career PGA Tour cut on Friday.

“I thought I did a good job this week with my game and controlling my emotions,” Akina said. “Overall, I had a lot of fun in Bermuda.”

PGA Tour officials shortened the event to 54 holes due to high winds, making Saturday’s third round the final round.

After opening the tournament with rounds of 66 and 67 to make the cut at 9 under, Akina shot a 1-under 70 in the third round. The sophomore bogeyed No. 5 but responded with consecutive birdies on Nos. 6 and 7. After a bogey on No. 9 moved him back to even par before the turn, Akina added a bogey on No. 13 and birdies on Nos. 15 and 17 to finish at 1 under.

Former Cougar Zac Blair (65-69-70-204) tied for 25th at 9 under after carding a 1-under 70 in the third round. Blair recorded two birdies on the front nine before bogeys on Nos. 12 and 16 moved him back to even par. A birdie on No. 17 gave him a 1-under finish.

Akina, Blair and BYU alumnus Patrick Fishburn will next compete in the PGA Tour’s VidantaWorld Mexico Open, beginning Thursday, Oct. 29, at Vidanta Vallarta Golf Course in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico.

“I’m looking forward to another fun week in Mexico,” Akina said. “It will be another good learning experience, and I’m looking forward to seeing how well I can stick to my process.”