Houston shocked many when Coach Kelvin Sampson’s squad eliminated Duke in the Final Four after a furious comeback. Even though the Cougars lost some players, they are still one of the most dangerous squads coming into the 2024-2025 season.
Andy Patton explained on the Locked On College Basketball YouTube channel, explained that the Cougars are still dangerous after their run to the national title game, even though they only have one transfer.
“Let’s look at the one transfer portal addition that Houston did make, because again, it wasn’t a big transfer portal class. It didn’t need to be a big transfer portal class with so many guys returning to the roster, and of course, the freshman group coming in…” Patton told guest Parker Ainsworth.
Houston only gained four-star point guard Milos Uzan in the transfer portal from Oklahoma, losing only shooting guard Damian Dunn in the transfer Portal to Pittsburgh.
Patton also discussed the incoming freshman class of 2025, headlined by five-star center Chris Cenac Jr., who led Link Academy to the inaugural Nike EYBL Scholastic title. However, he is not the only five-star recruit that Kelvin Sampson has recruited from the class, as Houston is also getting shooting guard Isiah Harwell and point guard Kingston Flemings, both of whom are considered Top 20 prospects.
Aside from the three five-star prospects, Houston also recruited three-star shooting guard Bryce Jackson from the Class of 2025. Despite only having five additions to the roster, the Cougars are still considered dangerous for other teams next season, given that a lot of the players who reached the NCAA national championship game are staying with Kelvin Sampson’s squad.
Houston’s Kelvin Sampson is now one of the highest-paid MBB coaches in the NCAA
As Kelvin Sampson is preparing another try to win it all for Houston, the university has shown that they are investing a lot in the coach. After leading the Cougars to the NCAA national championship game, the coach has now signed a new contract with the school and is one of the highest-paid coaches in NCAA men’s basketball.
For the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons, Sampson will be paid a base salary of $5.5 million. This will then increase in the next two seasons, per the Houston Chronicle. He will be paid $6 million during the 2027-28 season, and this will increase again in the 2028-29 season to $6.5 million. However, it should be noted that other details of the contract have not been made public.
This salary increase shows that Houston wants to win a national title, and they want Sampson to do so in four years.
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