BROOKLYN, N.Y. – University of Houston point guard Kingston Flemings became the first Cougar to be taken in the 2026 NBA Draft First Round when he was selected with the #8 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks inside Barclays Center.
As a freshman in 2025-26 Flemings led the Cougars to a 30-7 overall record for the program’s fifth straight 30-win season (tying the NCAA Division I record) and the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the seventh consecutive season, the nation’s longest active streak.
DRAFT NOTES
• Flemings became only the third Cougar freshman to be selected in the NBA Draft, joining forward Jarace Walker (Indiana Pacers • 2023) and Alton Ford (Phoenix Suns • 2001). Flemings joined Walker as the only Houston freshmen taken in the First Round.
• Flemings became the fourth Cougar to be selected by the Atlanta Hawks and the first since forward Dwight Jones was taken with the #9 pick of the 1973 Draft. He joined other Hawk draftees guard Poo Welch (1971 • Fourth Round • #56 overall) and forward Arthur Helms (1956 • 13th Round • #86 overall).
• Flemings became the 15th Cougar to be selected in the NBA Draft First Round and the first since forward Jarace Walker in 2023 (Indiana Pacers).
• Flemings joined forward Jarace Walker (2023 • Indiana Pacers • First Round) as the only Cougars to be taken with the #8 overall pick.
• Flemings became Houston’s eighth Top-10 selection in the NBA Draft.
• Flemings became the sixth Cougar to be drafted under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson. He also was the 18th NBA Draft pick in Sampson’s career.
• Flemings is Head Coach Kelvin Sampson‘s eighth NBA Draft First-Round selection and his fourth as Houston’s head coach.
ABOUT KINGSTON FLEMINGS
In his first season in the Scarlet and White, Flemings dazzled college basketball fans. He was a consensus Second-Team All-American and became the first freshman in program history to earn All-America honors.
He was one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, presented to the nation’s top collegiate point guard by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Flemings was one of three student-athletes who were unanimous selections for the All-Big 12 Conference First Team and was one of four unanimous choices for the All-Freshman squad.
He became the first Cougar freshman to be named to an All-Conference First Team since guard Rob Williams was named to the 1979-80 All-Southwest Conference squad.
In 2025-26, Flemings led the Cougars and ranked among the Big 12 Top-20 leaders with 16.1 points, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game while hitting 47.6 percent of his shots from the field and 38.7 percent from behind the arc. He paces the Cougars with 12 20-point games, including three straight in late January.
With 594 points in 2025-26, Flemings set the Houston freshman single-season scoring record, besting Williams’ 456 points during the 1979-80 season, and ranked second in school freshman single-season history with his scoring average.
He posted a career-high 42 points on 15-of-26 shooting at #12/12 Texas Tech on January 24 to set the school freshman single-game scoring record. He became only the 12th Cougar of any class to score 40+ points in a game and topped the previous freshman scoring record of 34 points by Williams against Rice on February 25, 1980.
Flemings scored nine points in the final two minutes and added five assists with three rebounds and a blocked shot in the Cougars’ 69-65 win over #14/14 Texas Tech inside Fertitta Center on January 6.
After scoring 22 points with five rebounds, seven assists and a blocked shot in a win over #22/25 Auburn during the RxBenefits The Battleground 2k25 in Birmingham, Ala., on November 16, Flemings was honored as the USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week as well as the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Week.
Flemings joined the Cougars after an award-winning prep career at Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas.
HOW to WATCH
Fans can watch NBA Draft First-Round coverage now on ABC or ESPN or by clicking here.
Fans can watch the NBA Draft Second Round beginning at 7 p.m. (CDT), Wednesday, on ESPN or by clicking here.
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