Milos Uzan’s decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to Houston for his senior season has transformed the Cougars’ 2025-26 championship aspirations. The masterstroke retention, combined with an elite recruiting class, positions Kelvin Sampson’s squad as early title favorites.
Uzan’s Return Solidifies Championship Core
Uzan’s withdrawal from the NBA Draft on Tuesday, just one day before the May 28 deadline, represents a massive victory for Houston basketball. The 6-foot-4 junior guard was projected as the 42nd overall prospect by ESPN after an All-Big 12 second team season where he averaged 11.4 points and 4.2 assists while shooting 43% from three-point range.
Milos Uzan’s size (6’4), fluidity, improved 3-point shooting (43% 3P%) and touch finishing inside the arc are attractive traits from an NBA standpoint. He rarely turns the ball over and made notable gains on the defensive end under Houston coach Kelvin Sampson. https://t.co/8HlmeWpe93 pic.twitter.com/ChnbFd7NlZ
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 13, 2025
The decision came after Uzan helped lead Houston to their first national championship game appearance since 1984, where they fell 65-63 to Florida. His clutch performances throughout the tournament, including a game-winning layup with 0.9 seconds left against Purdue in the Sweet 16, showcased his ability to perform in pressure moments.
Teammate Emanuel Sharp captured Uzan’s importance perfectly: “We don’t need another Jamal. We have Milos. We follow Milos”. This leadership quality, combined with his improved three-point shooting and defensive growth under Sampson, makes him irreplaceable for Houston’s championship pursuit.
Kelvin Sampson’s projected starting lineup perfectly balances veteran leadership with elite incoming talent. Milos Uzan will likely return as the experienced floor general, joined by Pop Isaacs who would fill the crucial shot-creation role left by L.J. Cryer’s departure.
The front court may feature returning stars Emanuel Sharp and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Joseph Tugler, while five-star freshman Chris Cenac Jr. would step immediately into the starting center position as the highest-rated recruit in program history.
Elite Recruiting Class Complements Veteran Leadership
Houston’s retention of Uzan pairs perfectly with what’s being called the program’s highest-rated recruiting class in history, ranked No. 2 nationally. The class is headlined by five-star center Chris Cenac Jr., ranked No. 10 nationally and already projected as a 2026 NBA Draft lottery pick.
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Joining Cenac are five-star shooting guard Isiah Harwell and highly-regarded point guard Kingston Flemings, giving Houston three top-25 recruits. ESPN projects three freshmen to crack the starting lineup, with the veteran presence of Uzan, Emanuel Sharp, and Joseph Tugler providing championship-tested leadership.
The combination of returning talent and elite recruits has college basketball experts taking notice. Coach Sampson, ever confident in his program, recently proclaimed: “Don’t sleep on Houston. We weren’t 34-4 playing in the Toy Poodle League”. Multiple outlets, including ESPN, USA Today, and CBS Sports, have Houston ranked No.1 in their early preseason polls, which is a testament to their incredible position under Coach Sampson.
Houston’s masterstroke in retaining Uzan while adding elite talent positions them perfectly for a championship run. With Sampson in the final years of his contract and a succession plan already in place, the 2025-26 season represents a golden opportunity for the Cougars to capture their first national title since 1983.
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