Houston didn’t need another star guard. It needed the right one.
That’s what makes Chendall Weaver such a clean fit for the Cougars. With their starting lineup largely set and a wave of backcourt departures already reshaping the roster, Houston was looking for a proven piece who could slide in without demanding the ball or the spotlight. Weaver checks that box.
The Cougars lost Milos Uzan, Emmanuel Sharp and Kingston Flemings to the NBA Draft, and former five-star prospect Isaih Harwell also headed to the transfer portal. That left Houston in search of a new guard group, even after adding LSU transfer Dedan Thomas Jr. and former Purdue Fort Wayne guard Corey Hadnot II as the projected starters. Top-30 freshman Ikenna Alozie is also expected to play a major role.
But beyond Mercy Miller and Chase McCarty, Houston still had room for one more veteran guard who could give the staff dependable minutes and keep the rotation steady. Weaver, who spent the last three seasons at Texas, fits that need almost perfectly.
He appeared in 90 games for the Longhorns and started 17, while carving out a consistent off-the-bench role of around 20 minutes per night. Weaver averaged around 6.1 points and 4.0 rebounds, and while his perimeter shooting was limited, he gave Texas toughness, rebounding and enough offense to function as a reliable fifth option.
There were flashes, too. Weaver posted five double-digit scoring games and dropped 17 points against NC State in non-conference play.
What makes the move especially useful for Houston is what Weaver brings defensively. Thomas and Hadnot can score, but neither is known first and foremost for stopping people. Weaver gives the Cougars another perimeter defender they can trust, and he can share the floor with either of the new starters if Houston wants more resistance on that end.
He also eases the pressure on Alozie, who won’t need to be thrown into a huge role immediately if he’s not ready for it.
This won’t be the splashiest portal addition Houston makes, but it might end up being one of the smartest. For a top-10 team with March in mind, Weaver looks like exactly the kind of role player that can matter when the games get tighter.
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Houston Gets An Early Test Of Its National Title Formula
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The backdrop is familiar for Houston, which has spent the offseason retooling around returning players while absorbing another wave of departures to the NBA draft. A top-rated recruit and several transfers are part of the next version, and those pieces will be asked to blend quickly if the Cougars want to keep operating at the level Sampson has built for the 2026-27 season. [Read more 🡒]