“I’ll give you the inside scoop: Kingston’s going to the [NBA] draft,” Sampson said, confirming the expected path for Houston’s standout freshman and 2025-26 All-American selection. “And he’s going to be a top-10 pick.”

Sampson added he expected Flemings to hold a press conference announcing his entry into the 2026 NBA Draft “pretty soon.” Flemings himself did not announce an official entry into June’s draft as of Thursday morning. 

Flemings, 19, should make good on Sampson’s proclamation that he is a top-10 pick in the 2026 draft. A five-star recruit from Brennan in San Antonio, Flemings shone as a freshman for the Cougars. Flemings led Houston in scoring and assists and scored 20-plus points 12 times (including a 42-point explosion in a 90-86 loss at Texas Tech in January). Flemings has a quick burst and a smooth jump shot. A 6-foot-4 guard, he is someone Sampson expects to “get on the floor fairly quickly in a backup role” in his first NBA season.

Flemings is effectively guaranteed to be selected in the 2026 draft. The future of his fellow five-star freshman is less clear as of Thursday.

Houston center Chris Cenac Jr. is still weighing whether to enter the draft or return to Houston for a sophomore season, with an April 26 deadline to either declare for the draft or go back to school. Cenac isn’t a guaranteed lottery pick like Flemings, slotted in most expert mock drafts as an early-20s selection. Sampson offered a vote of confidence in Cenac on Thursday. 

“Chris really helped himself this year,” Sampson said. “That Kansas game where he had 17 points, 14 rebounds, the other game in the tournament where he had 18 rebounds, those are the things that create value for Chris. He didn’t shoot it as well, but having a bad shooting night, isn’t gonna make [NBA teams] not like ya. The fact that you’re allowed to take those shots, that influences their decisions, too.”

Flemings is draft-bound and expected to walk across the stage at Barclays Center in Brooklyn in June as a top-10 pick. Cenac could hear his name called shortly thereafter. The future is still, to some degree, a mystery for both Houston standouts. But Sampson has no questions about Flemings and Cenac’s eventual basketball futures, wherever they lead.

“Once they’re drafted, and once they’re on the right teams, I expect both of them to have tremendous NBA careers,” Sampson said. “Nobody will be happier for them than ol’ coach.”