Wright Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week and Somehow this was Destined
STILLWATER – This was meant to be. John-Michael Wright is helping to pick up for the absence of teammate and fellow starter Avery Anderson III. Anderson, a Cowboy veteran and stalwart as a top defender and offensive shooter and distributor, is out likely for the rest of the season following surgery to his non shooting wrist. Now, Wright the transfer from High Point University that was really excited when he got the call from Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton is the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. Wright was instrumental in both the win over Texas Tech last Wednesday and he was the leading scorer in the Pokes upset at Iowa State. For the week, Wright averaged 13.5 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting .563 (9-16) from the field.
When Wright was just a kid starting school as a six-year-old his stepfather enjoyed watching Westerns. When the Fayetteville, N.C. native began playing video games like NCAA Football he would be Oklahoma State. He liked the mascot “Pistol Pete” and when he went into the transfer portal last spring and Mike Boynton called from the Oklahoma State Cowboys that was almost poetic.
“I’m excited to play at a big stage in a big arena like that and play in the Big 12,” Wright told the Stillwater News Press. “I’m really just looking forward to getting better. New school, new people, new coaching staff. I’m ready to do it, ready to lock in, ready to learn. Ready to be the best I can be for the school.”
Ready to be a Cowboy. Now, the Cowboys are darned glad to have him. On the season, Wright is closing in on averaging double figures as he is at 9.5 points a game and almost two assists a game. Expect those numbers to go up as he is aware of how he can pick up his game in Anderson’s absence on the floot.
Wright is experienced and grounded, two very good attributes for the role he has with his Cowboys. He has been solid in the recent five game win streak that also features six wins in the past seven games.
“The winning does help,” Wright said on Monday. “It gives guys an edge going into the next game, it gives us confidence as a team, but we’re not going to be satisfied until we get to the end.”
That next game, the Valentines evening date inside Gallagher-Iba Arena with Kansas.