This was always going to be a special draft class for the Cougars, and it came together. Houston had plenty of NBA talent on its roster, and the program has made a name for itself to develop professional players.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson<\/a> was there in Brooklyn, NY, to see his star players get taken in the first round, and then he made his way to Florida for Sharp\u2019s selection party at his former guard\u2019s home. It was a busy draft time for Sampson, and he was asked in his recent Zoom press conference <\/a>about this achievement.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sampson on his Program\u2019s Latest Feat Houston head men’s coach Kelvin Sampson talks to the team in the huddle during a second-round game in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament between Houston Cougars and Texas A&M Aggies at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday March 21, 2026. | SARAH PHIPPS\/THE OKLAHOMAN \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest surprise for everyone else has been Emanuel\u2019s story. Coming out of high school, graduating early. Coming to Houston to rehab, get healthy. Redshirting first year, came off the bench, contributor. Redshirt sophomore year, becoming a starter,\u201d Sampson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Houston\u2019s coach has also said Sharp is one of his favorites that he\u2019s coached over the years. He\u2019s the definition of a Houston player. A tough, physical guard that gives it his all on the floor. He didn\u2019t let his early adversity and severe knee injury in high school stop him from achieving his NBA dream.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sharp was one of the best \u201c3-and-D\u201d guards in the Big 12 last season and shot 38 percent from three on very high volume and averaged 15.5 points his senior season as the leader.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud of our player development and I\u2019m proud of our staff. One of the reasons why kids choose Houston is they want to get better and they know we have a track record for developing you at the position you want to play,\u201d Sampson said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of guards drafted. But we\u2019ve also had Jarace Walker, Chris Cenac. And we\u2019ve got some kids on this team that are in their process and they\u2019ll have a chance to get drafted<\/a> one day.\u201d<\/p>\n Sampson listed out his entire coaching staff, and he\u2019s mentioned over and over that prospects and families choose a coaching staff, not a school. That\u2019s a key part of Houston being able to get some big recruits over the past few years and develop them. It also sets the table for the future to continue to have high-level coaching and development long after Sampson is gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cProud of Kellen (Sampson), K.C., Quannas, Mike, Goldie, Hollis, and then Allan Bishop and John Houston. We have a very organized and disciplined approach to player development, and we stick to that approach,\u201d Sampson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Houston](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/01kwaq4q7ykgq9b9dstc.jpg\" "\\"Houston")
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