McKinley Wright IV has two reasons to return to Boulder

BOULDER — McKinley Wright IV is returning to Colorado for two reasons:

1. To be the first member of his family to graduate from college.
2. To lead the Buffs to the NCAA Tournament

“A childhood dream is March Madness,” Wright told reporters Wednesday. “I’ve been watching that since I was a kid. I’ve seen guys at my position perform at a high level and win at a high level in that tournament. It’s something I’ve always wanted to be a part of.”

Wright should already have March Madness experience under his belt but the COVID-19 pandemic stole that experience from him. At one point, Colorado had a strong case for a No. 3 seed in the tournament. The Buffs fell off in the last few weeks of the season but they were still a lock to make The Big Dance.

“It was almost like a dream,” Wright said of the tournament’s cancellation. “We couldn’t believe it was happening.”

Wright explored the idea of leaving CU this offseason to enter the NBA Draft. He worked out in Phoenix with top-tier coaches and other potential draftees. But NBA scouts wanted to see better assist-to-turnover and 3-point shooting numbers out of the 6-foot guard before they could commit to him. So, Wright decided to play his senior season at CU.

Wright is currently quarantining for seven days after returning to Boulder earlier this week. He’ll be allowed to spend time with his teammates once the team-mandated quarantine is completed.

“This is my last go-around and I’ve got big dreams,” Wright said. “I want to take CU to a place they haven’t been in a while. We want to go back to the tournament. We want to win high-level games.”

This offseason should help Wright achieve those goals.

“The work I put in and the time I spent in the gym compared to all my other offseasons, it’s a big gap,” Wright said. “Last offseason, I thought I worked hard. But it was nothing compared to the time and different type of mindset I put myself in this year.”

But basketball isn’t the only thing on Wright’s mind; don’t forget about what No. 1 on his list of reasons to return was.

“My grandparents are excited about that. My parents are excited about that,” Wright said. “I’m excited about that as well.”