BYU Basketball Stars Honored for Academic Excellence

0:00On April 30th, BYU men's basketball players, Richie Saunders, Dawson Baker, and Robert Wright, the third just landed spots on the 2025, 26 Big 12 academic winter team. That's a huge nod to their smarts on and off the court, with Saunders and Baker nabbing these honors for the second year running. Right the third keeps stacking accolades too, fresh off being named in Academic All-American this month by college sports communicators. To make the team, these guys needed at least a 3.20 GPA over recent semesters and solid playing time, proving freshmen and first year. Transpairs don't qualify unless they meet extra rules. These awards highlight how BYU ballers balance elite hoops with classroom grind. Fans and coaches love seeing athletes who dominate games without skipping study hall, boosting the program's rep for well-rounded talent. Saunders wrapped his four year run 17th. On BYU's all-time scoring list at 1,544 points, dropping 18 points, and nearly six boards

1:03a game as a senior before an injury sidelined him. Wright the third exploded for 18.1 points and 4.6 assists in his debut Cougar season, hitting double figures 35, times including a 39-point gem. Baker showed flashes too, averaging 7.5 points in six games with sharp shooting from deep and the line before his own injury cut things. Shout out to these scholars, athletes repping BYU's strong proof, you can hoop hard and hit the books harder.