Robert Wright III was the one who almost got away this spring. As the transfer portal giveth, so must it take, but BYU basketball was not ready to let their prized point guard wander through the desert of basketball woe to fall into the awaiting arms of Mark Pope, standing on the bow of his crumbling, land-locked cruise liner in Lexington, Kentucky.
No, BYU basketball was not keen to slip away into obscurity in the wake of AJ Dybantsa's departure to the pros, nor were they anxious to stumble out of the high-level recruiting business. Scrapping funds, making public pleas, and campaigning for his return, Wright was swayed and eventually agreed to return back to the program he called home for his sophomore stint.
But not all will be the same for Wright after arriving in Provo. Just ask his barber.
Rob Wright III’s new haircut pic.twitter.com/J9QgzJsQV3
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) May 11, 2026
No, your eyes do not deceive you. Robert Wright III's junior season will not feature his trademark hair style, as he's opted for a more clean-cut, streamlined look. Like a bullet train, he's removing all drag to make his path to the basket as fast as possible. His dribble moves more quick, more violent.
Not that the new look is a bad one, of course, but we never truly had a chance to say goodbye. I'm reminded of a YouTube video created for former BYU QB Riley Nelson, whose distinguished mane captivated the admiration of Cougar Nation as he manned the comeback effort against Utah State back in 2011.
In tune, I wish to say one final goodbye to the Robert Wright of yesterday. This is an ode to Rob Wright III's hair.
An Ode to Robert Wright III's Hair
Like a fireworks show atop his head, Rob Wright's hairstyle once reflected his explosive play style. A visual representation of the pyrotechnics that BYU basketball's lead guard likes to unleash upon the college basketball world. An eruption, an icon.
Gracefully, Wright once appeared as the perfect intersection between Coby White, both pre and post-cut. Today, he mirrors the look of Dybantsa, his former teammate, on AJ's first days in Provo.
No, we won't love you any less, Rob. But to your hair, and the image that it graced upon our eyes on every game day, we speak a solemn farewell. Perhaps we'll meet again someday.
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