Houston’s roster will look different next season, but the Cougars still have the kind of transfer that can shape everything.
Dedan Thomas Jr. stands out as the most important addition for Houston heading into 2026-27, and that’s because of both what he’s done and what the Cougars have lost. Houston is coming off its fifth straight 30-win season and another run to at least the Sweet Sixteen, extending a stretch that has seen the program reach that stage in each of the last seven NCAA Tournaments. Kelvin Sampson has turned the Cougars into a national force, but this offseason brought real turnover.
Three players from last season were selected in the NBA Draft, including freshmen Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac. Emanuel Sharp is gone after a brilliant career, and Milos Uzan also departs, leaving Houston with major questions in the backcourt. Joseph Tugler returns for his senior season, while Chase McCarty and Mercy Miller are back as juniors and should see bigger roles.
The incoming class is solid rather than flashy, though Houston does bring in a pair of 4-stars in 7-footer Arafan Diane and point guard Ikenna Alozie. The portal helped more than it did a year ago, too. Delrecco Gillespie arrives after nearly averaging 18 points a game in Kent State’s frontcourt, Braden East comes in after nearly posting a double-double at Lamar, and Corey Hadnot adds scoring after putting up 20.4 points per game at Purdue Fort Wayne as a junior.
Thomas is the one who changes the ceiling. The 6-1 guard from Las Vegas made his name at UNLV over his first two college seasons and won Mountain West Rookie of the Year in 2024. He then transferred to LSU, where a foot injury limited him to 16 games last season, but he still produced 15.3 points and 6.5 assists per game.
Given the upheaval at LSU, his move into the portal made sense. For Houston, it looks like a near-perfect fit.
The Cougars have built this run on elite backcourt play, with Marcus Sasser, Jamal Shead, and LJ Cryer all driving deep postseason pushes. Thomas has the chance to fill that same kind of role, bringing scoring, distribution, and playmaking to a team that will need it.
Houston added plenty of offense this offseason, and Sampson will want those newcomers to help keep the defense at its usual level. But if the Cougars are going to stay in the national mix, Thomas may be the most important piece of all. He’s the veteran point guard with the track record to handle that responsibility.
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Three Cougars Just Put Houstons 2026 Hype On The Map
A familiar trio is helping set the tone for Houstons 2026 football outlook before a snap has been played. Amare Thomas, Will James and Shadre Hurst all landed preseason recognition, giving the Cougars a clear early signal that the rosters top end is being viewed as one of the Big 12s stronger groups heading into the fall.
Thomas earned a spot on Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Third Team and was also placed on the Preseason All-Big 12 First Team, while James and Hurst joined him on the conferences first team. For Houston, the honors do more than decorate a preseason list. They point to a core the Cougars are expected to lean on, with Thomas, James and Hurst carrying the kind of reputation that can shape how the rest of the league prepares for them. [Read more 🡒]
Willie Fritz Sees A New Edge For Houston This Season
Willie Fritz is seeing a different kind of roster pressure this season, and for Houston it starts with a change in how college football handles eligibility. The NCAAs new age-based rule is giving qualifying student athletes a longer runway without the usual redshirt concerns, and Fritz said that should help the Cougars get more out of both freshmen and transfer additions right away.
For a program trying to build depth and keep competition sharp, that matters. Fritz likes the idea of more players being able to step in and contribute without waiting their turn on the sideline, and that creates a more open battle across the roster as Houston keeps sorting out who fits where in the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]