10/26/2026 11:47:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Houston senior point guard is one of 20 student-athletes to be selected nationally
HOUSTON – University of Houston Men's Basketball senior Dedan Thomas was named to the Naismith Starting 5 – Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List on Monday afternoon.The award honors the nation's best collegiate point guards and is presented by the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Watch List will narrow down to 10 student-athletes in late February with the Final 5 being announced in March The award winner and presentation details will be revealed at the Final Four in Detroit.
Houston fans will be able vote for Thomas by visiting hoophallawards.com and following the appropriate links. The student-athlete who receives the most fan votes will earn an additional vote from the award's selection committee.
ABOUT DEDAN THOMAS Jr.
Thomas is in his first season at Houston after transferring from LSU during the summer.
In the Cougars' exhibition finale during The Battleground 2k26 in Grand Rapids, Mich., Thomas led all players with 25 points and seven assists to guide Houston to an 83-66 win over #16/20 Michigan on Sunday.
In 2025-26, he competed in 16 games with 15 starts and averaged 15.3 points and 6.5 assists per game with a 4.0 assist-turnover ratio before undergoing foot surgery and missing the rest of the season.
He recorded three 20-point games with the Tigers, including a season-high 23 points at Boston College.
Prior to his stint at LSU, Thomas played for two seasons at UNLV, where he was a two-time All-Mountain West Conference honoree and was named the league's 2023-24 Co-Freshman of the Tear
NAISMITH STARTING 5 – BOB COUSY POINT GUARD of the YEAR TOP 20 PRESEASON WATCH LIST
| Student-Athlete | School |
| Dedan Thomas Jr. | Houston |
| Aden Holloway | Alabama |
| Jordan Smith Jr. | Arkansas |
| Tahaad Pettiford | Auburn |
| Robert Wright III | BYU |
| Boogie Fland | Florida |
| Markus Burton | Indiana |
| Jackson Shelstad | Louisville |
| Donovan Dent | LSU |
| Nigel James Jr. | Marquette |
| Acaden Lewis | Miami (Fla.) |
| Elliott Cadeau | Michigan |
| Jeremy Fears Jr. | Michigan State |
| Josh Hubbard | Mississippi State |
| Jason Crowe Jr. | Missouri |
| Quinn Ellis | St. John's |
| Silas Demary Jr. | UConn |
| Tyler Tanner | Vanderbilt |
| Chance Mallory | Virginia |
| Miles Sadler | West Virginia |
UP NEXT
Thomas and the Cougars open their 2026-27 regular season when they play host to La Salle at 8 p.m., Nov. 2, inside Fertitta Center.
It will be the first meeting against the Explorers since the 1975-76 season.
BUY REGULAR-SEASON TICKETS
Regular-season single-game home tickets for all games inside Fertitta Center are on sale now, and fans are encouraged to purchase quickly while supplies last. Houston will play host to 17 home games inside Fertitta Center with eight in non-conference play and nine in Big 12 action in 2026-27.
Fans interested in purchasing group tickets may complete this form to be contacted by a member of the Houston Athletics Tickets Sales staff.
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by providing NIL opportunities and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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