Houston’s 2024-25 season underneath Kelvin Sampson ended up a single basket shy of a nationwide championship. Sampson has to make some main modifications, however has been fortunate to maintain a lot of the core of his squad for the approaching season. Here is a rundown on the personnel Houston will depend on to push towards one other title run.
Houston basketball 2025-26 season preview
Beginning lineup
Guard: Milos Uzan
Uzan thought-about the NBA Draft extensively, however in the end selected to return to varsity. Final 12 months, he averaged 11.4 factors and 4.3 assists per recreation. Uzan was a 43% 3-point shooter final 12 months. He is an elite and skilled guard who began for 2 years at Oklahoma earlier than heading to Houston. He’ll be a large consider Houston’s 2025-26 season.
Guard: Emanuel Sharp
The 6-foot-3 Sharp was one other participant who contemplated the NBA however elected to return. Final season, he averaged 12.6 factors and three.0 rebounds per recreation. Sharp shot 41% from 3-point vary and 87% from the foul line. He is one of many high perimeter scorers within the energy conferences who selected to return to highschool.
Guard: Pop Isaacs
A switch from Creighton, Isaacs scored 16.3 factors per recreation earlier than harm ended his season. Isaacs shot 38% from 3-point vary. He is succesful as a ball handler or a capturing guard and has sufficient scoring punch to right away affect Houston’s offensive assault. Isaacs seemed crucial again when Milos Uzan was thought-about more likely to depart to the NBA. Having him is only a nice bonus now for Houston.
Ahead: Joseph Tugler
The 6-foot-7 Tugler was Huge 12 Defensive Participant of the 12 months final season. He averaged 5.5 factors and 5.9 boards per recreation and has sufficient measurement and pace to defend nearly any opposing participant. He is nonetheless a piece in progress on offense and is a poor foul shooter, however nearly any coach would like to have such a gifted defensive stopper.
Ahead: Chris Cenac Jr.
A 6-foot-10 energy ahead who 247sports ranked because the No. 7 recruit within the 2025 nationwide class, Cenac needs to be a right away affect participant for the Cougars. Cenac is fast and athletic and might be a standout at each ends of the ground. Sampson might not begin might freshmen, however Cenac is not like most freshmen.
Rotation Gamers
Prime-20 freshmen Kingston Flemings (level guard) and Isaiah Harwell (capturing guard) ought to each be affect gamers for the Cougars. Huge Sam Houston switch Kalifa Sakho is a 6-foot-11 venture. Sophomore guard Mercy Miller (2.7 ppg final 12 months) figures to even be a major reserve.
Affect Gamers
Getting Uzan again is very large, and Cenac inside may give Houston a publish presence sorely missing for many of Sampson’s undersized groups. These two seem to be the largest keys to taking a great crew right into a probably nice crew.
What do you consider Houston’s squad for subsequent season? Share your take beneath in our feedback part!
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Edited by Joe Cox