CBB Rank 2025: No. 1, Houston Basketball

Kelvin Sampson and Houston basketball bring in their best freshman class in program history, looking to reload with key players back and finish the job in the national championship this time around for the Cougars’ first title.

The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Houston basketball.

Houston had one of the saddest endings to a season that you will ever see in the 2025 national championship game. The Cougars had the ball down two with the last possession of the game and failed to even get a shot attempt as the final seconds came off the clock. That ending will likely give them extra drive and motivation this season to get back to that stage and win it all.

This 2025-26 season is one of the most highly anticipated in school history, with the Cougars expected to be one of the premier teams in the country. Houston is ranked no. 2 overall in the AP poll, but takes the top spot here with an absolutely loaded roster full of exceptional talents. UH looks to make it consecutive Final Four and national championship appearances.

Houston will have a new look to them this season, but bring back point guard Milos Uzan, who decided not to go into the NBA, and redshirt senior guard Emanuel Sharp in the backcourt. They also have junior forward Joseph Tugler, considered to be one of the best defenders in the country. The Cougars also have a strong bench with sophomore guard Mercy Miller, Ramon Walker Jr., and Chase McCarty.

What stands out about Houston this season is their freshman class, a trio of highly talented players all ranked in the top 18 of the 247Sports Composite rankings. Center Chris Cenac Jr. is one of the best freshman in the country, alongside guard Isiah Harwell and point guard Kingston Flemings.

Flemings was in the starting lineup for Houston’s exhibition game last weekend against Mississippi State and figures to play a huge role alongside Uzan. The two point guards can create something special together and the offense will be more connected. Harwell is an elite scorer and will start the year off the bench, but could likely take Flemings’ spot later on after fully recovering from some injuries suffered before the summer.

While this is the youngest team Sampson has coached with freshmen getting significant minutes, the potential is through the roof once it all gets put together. This could be a very special year at Houston.

Head coach: Kelvin Sampson (12th season at Houston, 37 years overall)

2024-25 record: 35-5 (19-1)

2025 postseason finish: Lost to Florida (62-60) in the National Championship

Notable departures: 

• L.J. Cryer (15.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 42.4 3P%)
• J’Wan Roberts (10.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.8 APG)
• Terrance Arceneaux (6.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.7 APG)
• Mylik Wilson (5.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.4 APG)
• Ja’Vier Francis (5.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.2 APG, 1.0 BPG, 60.8 FG%)

Notable Non-Conference Games: 

• vs Auburn (Nov. 16) – Birmingham, AL
• vs. Syracuse (Nov. 24) – Players Era Championship
• vs. Tennessee (Nov. 25) – Players Era Championship
• vs. Florida State (Dec. 6) – Houston, TX
• vs. Arkansas (Dec. 20) – Newark, NJ

Projected Rotation:

PG: Milos Uzan (6-4, 195, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 11.4 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.1 RPG, 45.3 3P%

SG: Kingston Flemings (6-4, 190, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #16-ranked recruit

SF: Emanuel Sharp (6-3, 205, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 12.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 40.7 3P%

PF: Joseph Tugler (6-8, 230, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 5.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.9 BPG, 52.3 FG%

C: Chris Cenac Jr. (6-11, 240, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #6-ranked recruit

6. Isiah Harwell (6-6, 220, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #13-ranked recruit

7. Kalifa Sakho (6-11, 230, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 7.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.4 BPG, 66.0 FG% (Sam Houston)

8. Mercy Miller (6-4, 200, So.)

2024-25 stats: 2.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 25.4 FG%, 8.6 MPG

9. Ramon Walker Jr. (6-5, 215, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 2.0 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.0 APG, 50.0 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 11.5 MPG, 8 GP

10. Kordell Jefferson (6-3, 195, So.)

Redshirted 2024-25 season

11. Chase McCarty (6-6, 215, Fr.)

Redshirted 2024-25 season

12. Bryce Jackson (6-6, 210, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #177-ranked recruit

Houston Basketball team MVP: Milos Uzan

Uzan has now become the most important player on this team for multiple reasons. He is the primary point guard for this team and facilitates the offense. Uzan is also one of the best 3-point shooters on the team alongside Emanuel Sharp. He has really stepped up his defense over the past season and plays a role on that side of the floor. With his impact critical in all aspects of the game, Uzan is now an MVP for the team after being a transfer junior point guard who was adjusting to the system one year ago.

He is considered to be one of the premier point guards in the country, with the ball security and shooting talent. Overall, he is a complete player who will likely play in the NBA next year.

Houston Basketball make-or-break player: Chris Cenac Jr.

What will propel Houston to its first national championship win will be how young freshman star center Chris Cenac Jr. plays with the Cougars. This was the biggest get for Houston in their recruiting class with a very talented big man who can do it all. The potential he has with Sampson as his coach is through the roof. The Cougars’ head man is already pleased with how Cenac Jr. has progressed, and his rebounding ability has already been shown. Having a 7-foot player that has many talents is something Houston has not had during this current era. If he gives them elite defense and offense like many think he can do, the Cougars will be hard to beat.

Key Analytic: Three-Point %

One of the big reasons Houston basketball took the next step and made the national championship game last season was its 3-point shooting percentage. The Cougars never had an elite shooting team, especially from beyond the arc, until their 2024-25 team, that were one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country (ranked 4th at 39.3%). Houston always had that elite, tough defense, but that percentage from downtown gave them that extra edge offensively to make teams pay.

UH had L.J. Cryer last season, but otherwise brought back their other two elite 3-point shooters in Uzan and Sharp. Additionally, Cenac has a solid jump shot as a center, Harwell is a good shooter, and Kingston’s 3-ball is effective. Not to mention, Mercy Miller will be a better shooter this year. Tugler may even get some shots up. Houston’s 3-point percentage can be just as good, if not even more, with the volume of shooting they have.

Houston Basketball 2025-26 Projections

Projected Conference Finish: 1st in Big 12

Projected Postseason Ceiling: NCAA Tournament National Champions