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University of Houston Athletics
Men’s Basketball Collects NABC Gulf District Honors
3/17/2026 9:19:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Flemings and Sharp named to First Team; Tugler and Cenac earn places on Second Team; Sampson recognized as Coach of the Year
HOUSTON – University of Houston Men's Basketball point guard Kingston Flemings, guard Emanuel Sharp, forward Joseph Tugler and forward/center Chris Cenac Jr. joined Head Coach Kelvin Sampson in receiving Gulf District honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches on Tuesday.
Flemings and Sharp were named to the NABC All-Gulf District First Team while Tugler and Cenac received Second-Team honors. Sampson joined Texas Tech Coach Grant McCasland as the District Coaches of the Year.
The NABC Gulf District is comprised of all NCAA Division I schools from the states of Texas and Louisiana. Voting was held by NABC-member coaches from across the nation.
ABOUT KELVIN SAMPSON
In 2025-26, Sampson guided a young Houston team, which featured two freshmen in the starting lineup.
His team stood in the Top 10 of both national polls for the entire season and have been ranked in each of the last 125 Associated Press polls, a school record and the nation's longest active streak.
The Cougars finished second in the Big 12 Conference with a 14-4 league mark, the program's ninth straight Top-Two regular-season league and the 11th consecutive year among the Top Three leaders.
Sampson led Houston to its 11th straight 20-win season, another school record, and the 29th of his award-winning career.
With 827 wins entering Thursday's NCAA Tournament First-Round game against Idaho, Sampson stands 14th in NCAA history among coaches with 10+ years at Division I level and holds the Houston career record with a .784 winning percentage.
Earlier this year, he named an inductee for the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and was introduced by Vice President for Athletics Eddie Nuñez as a member of the Houston Athletics Class of 2026 Hall of Honor selection in late January.
In February, Sampson was named a finalist for enshrinement in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. That organization's inductee class will be introduced at NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis in early April.
This was his 10th District Coach of the Year award and his fifth straight from the NABC.
ABOUT KINGSTON FLEMINGS
In his first season in the Scarlet and White, Flemings has dazzled college basketball fans.
He is the first Houston freshman in program history to receive All-America honors and became the first Cougar freshman to be named to an All-Conference First Team since guard Rob Williams was named to the 1979-80 All-Southwest Conference squad. He was one of three student-athletes who were unanimous selections for the All-Big 12 Conference First Team and was one of four unanimous choices for the All-Freshman squad.
He leads the Cougars and ranks among the Big 12 Top-20 leaders with 16.4 points, 5.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game while hitting 47.5 percent of his shots from the field and 39.2 percent from behind the arc.
Flemings paces the Cougars with 12 20-point gam, including three straight in late January.
He posted a career-high 42 points on 15-of-26 shooting at Texas Tech on January 24 to set the school freshman single-game scoring record. He became only the 12th Cougar of any class to score 40+ points in a game and topped the previous freshman scoring record of 34 points by Williams against Rice on February 25, 1980.
With 556 points this season, Flemings has set the Houston freshman single-season scoring record, besting Williams' 456 points during the 1979-80 season. As the Cougars prepare for the NCAA Tournament, he is just ahead of Williams' freshman season scoring record average of 16.4 points per game.
Flemings scored nine points in the final two minutes and added five assists with three rebounds and a blocked shot in the Cougars' 69-65 win over #14/14 Texas Tech inside Fertitta Center on January 6.
After scoring 22 points with five rebounds, seven assists and a blocked shot in a win over #22/25 Auburn during the RxBenefits The Battleground 2k25 in Birmingham, Ala., on November 16, Flemings was honored as the USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week as well as the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Week.
Flemings joined the Cougars after an award-winning prep career at Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas.
ABOUT EMANUEL SHARP
In his first season in the Scarlet and White, Flemings has dazzled college basketball fans.
He is the first Houston freshman in program history to receive All-America honors and became the first Cougar freshman to be named to an All-Conference First Team since guard Rob Williams was named to the 1979-80 All-Southwest Conference squad. He was one of three student-athletes who were unanimous selections for the All-Big 12 Conference First Team and was one of four unanimous choices for the All-Freshman squad.
He leads the Cougars and ranks among the Big 12 Top-20 leaders with 16.4 points, 5.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game while hitting 47.5 percent of his shots from the field and 39.2 percent from behind the arc.
Flemings paces the Cougars with 12 20-point gam, including three straight in late January.
He posted a career-high 42 points on 15-of-26 shooting at Texas Tech on January 24 to set the school freshman single-game scoring record. He became only the 12th Cougar of any class to score 40+ points in a game and topped the previous freshman scoring record of 34 points by Williams against Rice on February 25, 1980.
With 556 points this season, Flemings has set the Houston freshman single-season scoring record, besting Williams' 456 points during the 1979-80 season. As the Cougars prepare for the NCAA Tournament, he is just ahead of Williams' freshman season scoring record average of 16.4 points per game.
Flemings scored nine points in the final two minutes and added five assists with three rebounds and a blocked shot in the Cougars' 69-65 win over #14/14 Texas Tech inside Fertitta Center on January 6.
After scoring 22 points with five rebounds, seven assists and a blocked shot in a win over #22/25 Auburn during the RxBenefits The Battleground 2k25 in Birmingham, Ala., on November 16, Flemings was honored as the USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week as well as the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Week.
Flemings joined the Cougars after an award-winning prep career at Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas.
ABOUT JOSEPH TUGLER
With Tuesday's announcement, Tugler collected the first NABC District honor of his career.
He received All-Big 12 Conference honors for the second straight season after being named to the league's Third Team a year ago.
This also marked his second straight season on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team and established him as the first Cougar to be named to multiple conference All-Defensive Teams in program history.
In 2025-26, Tugler leads the Cougars with 1.5 blocks per game and is second on the squad with 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per contest. He stands ninth in the Big 12 with his block average.
He posted a career-high 20 points with 10 rebounds against #2/2 (1) Arizona for his third double-double of the season in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament Championship. He was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team.
The Monroe, La., native has recorded seven games with 3+ blocks, including a season-high five blocked shots against Syracuse during the first day of the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas, on November 24, 2025.
Tugler has posted 11 games with 7+ rebounds, including back-to-back double-digit performances in win over Big 12-rivals Texas Tech and Baylor in early January.
A year ago, Tugler was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and received the Lefty Driesell Award, presented to the nation's top defensive player. He also was a finalist for the Naismith Award National Defensive Player of the Year.
ABOUT CHRIS CENAC Jr.
Like Flemings, Cenac is in his first collegiate season after an award-winning high school career as the nation's No. 1 center.
The New Orleans native has competed in all 34 games with 33 starts, averaging 9.5 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds per game. He is poised to become the first freshman to lead the Cougars in rebounding since the 2011-12 season.
With 10 rebounds in the season opener against Lehigh (November 3) and 13 boards against Towson (November 8) inside Fertitta Center, Cenac became the first freshman in school history to record double-digit rebounding performances in the first two games of his career.
He has recorded 12 games with 10+ rebounds, including a career-14 boards in the Cougars' Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament Semifinal win over #14/16 Kansas on March 13.
Cenac scored a career-high 18 points with nine rebounds in Houston's win over #22/25 Auburn during the RxBenefits The Battleground 2k25 inside Legacy Arena at The BJCC in Birmingham, Ala., on November 16, 2025.
The 6-foot-10 forward/center also has shown range outside, draining a career-best three 3-point field goals in wins at Baylor (January 10), against Cincinnati (January 31) in Fertitta Center and against #14/16 Kansas (March 13) during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament.
NABC GULF DISTRICT HONORS
First Team
Second Team
BUY TICKETS
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
UP NEXT
• Sampson and the Cougars open the NCAA Tournament when they tip off against (15) Idaho at 9:10 p.m., Thursday, inside Paycom Center in Oklahoma Center.
• Fans can watch that game on truTV and hear it live on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app. The game also can be heard on Westwood One.
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.
Flemings and Sharp were named to the NABC All-Gulf District First Team while Tugler and Cenac received Second-Team honors. Sampson joined Texas Tech Coach Grant McCasland as the District Coaches of the Year.
The NABC Gulf District is comprised of all NCAA Division I schools from the states of Texas and Louisiana. Voting was held by NABC-member coaches from across the nation.
ABOUT KELVIN SAMPSONIn 2025-26, Sampson guided a young Houston team, which featured two freshmen in the starting lineup.
His team stood in the Top 10 of both national polls for the entire season and have been ranked in each of the last 125 Associated Press polls, a school record and the nation's longest active streak.
The Cougars finished second in the Big 12 Conference with a 14-4 league mark, the program's ninth straight Top-Two regular-season league and the 11th consecutive year among the Top Three leaders.
Sampson led Houston to its 11th straight 20-win season, another school record, and the 29th of his award-winning career.
With 827 wins entering Thursday's NCAA Tournament First-Round game against Idaho, Sampson stands 14th in NCAA history among coaches with 10+ years at Division I level and holds the Houston career record with a .784 winning percentage.
Earlier this year, he named an inductee for the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and was introduced by Vice President for Athletics Eddie Nuñez as a member of the Houston Athletics Class of 2026 Hall of Honor selection in late January.
In February, Sampson was named a finalist for enshrinement in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. That organization's inductee class will be introduced at NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis in early April.
This was his 10th District Coach of the Year award and his fifth straight from the NABC.
ABOUT KINGSTON FLEMINGSIn his first season in the Scarlet and White, Flemings has dazzled college basketball fans.
He is the first Houston freshman in program history to receive All-America honors and became the first Cougar freshman to be named to an All-Conference First Team since guard Rob Williams was named to the 1979-80 All-Southwest Conference squad. He was one of three student-athletes who were unanimous selections for the All-Big 12 Conference First Team and was one of four unanimous choices for the All-Freshman squad.
He leads the Cougars and ranks among the Big 12 Top-20 leaders with 16.4 points, 5.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game while hitting 47.5 percent of his shots from the field and 39.2 percent from behind the arc.
Flemings paces the Cougars with 12 20-point gam, including three straight in late January.
He posted a career-high 42 points on 15-of-26 shooting at Texas Tech on January 24 to set the school freshman single-game scoring record. He became only the 12th Cougar of any class to score 40+ points in a game and topped the previous freshman scoring record of 34 points by Williams against Rice on February 25, 1980.
With 556 points this season, Flemings has set the Houston freshman single-season scoring record, besting Williams' 456 points during the 1979-80 season. As the Cougars prepare for the NCAA Tournament, he is just ahead of Williams' freshman season scoring record average of 16.4 points per game.
Flemings scored nine points in the final two minutes and added five assists with three rebounds and a blocked shot in the Cougars' 69-65 win over #14/14 Texas Tech inside Fertitta Center on January 6.
After scoring 22 points with five rebounds, seven assists and a blocked shot in a win over #22/25 Auburn during the RxBenefits The Battleground 2k25 in Birmingham, Ala., on November 16, Flemings was honored as the USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week as well as the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Week.
Flemings joined the Cougars after an award-winning prep career at Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas.
ABOUT EMANUEL SHARPIn his first season in the Scarlet and White, Flemings has dazzled college basketball fans.
He is the first Houston freshman in program history to receive All-America honors and became the first Cougar freshman to be named to an All-Conference First Team since guard Rob Williams was named to the 1979-80 All-Southwest Conference squad. He was one of three student-athletes who were unanimous selections for the All-Big 12 Conference First Team and was one of four unanimous choices for the All-Freshman squad.
He leads the Cougars and ranks among the Big 12 Top-20 leaders with 16.4 points, 5.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game while hitting 47.5 percent of his shots from the field and 39.2 percent from behind the arc.
Flemings paces the Cougars with 12 20-point gam, including three straight in late January.
He posted a career-high 42 points on 15-of-26 shooting at Texas Tech on January 24 to set the school freshman single-game scoring record. He became only the 12th Cougar of any class to score 40+ points in a game and topped the previous freshman scoring record of 34 points by Williams against Rice on February 25, 1980.
With 556 points this season, Flemings has set the Houston freshman single-season scoring record, besting Williams' 456 points during the 1979-80 season. As the Cougars prepare for the NCAA Tournament, he is just ahead of Williams' freshman season scoring record average of 16.4 points per game.
Flemings scored nine points in the final two minutes and added five assists with three rebounds and a blocked shot in the Cougars' 69-65 win over #14/14 Texas Tech inside Fertitta Center on January 6.
After scoring 22 points with five rebounds, seven assists and a blocked shot in a win over #22/25 Auburn during the RxBenefits The Battleground 2k25 in Birmingham, Ala., on November 16, Flemings was honored as the USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week as well as the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Week.
Flemings joined the Cougars after an award-winning prep career at Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas.
ABOUT JOSEPH TUGLERWith Tuesday's announcement, Tugler collected the first NABC District honor of his career.
He received All-Big 12 Conference honors for the second straight season after being named to the league's Third Team a year ago.
This also marked his second straight season on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team and established him as the first Cougar to be named to multiple conference All-Defensive Teams in program history.
In 2025-26, Tugler leads the Cougars with 1.5 blocks per game and is second on the squad with 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per contest. He stands ninth in the Big 12 with his block average.
He posted a career-high 20 points with 10 rebounds against #2/2 (1) Arizona for his third double-double of the season in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament Championship. He was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team.
The Monroe, La., native has recorded seven games with 3+ blocks, including a season-high five blocked shots against Syracuse during the first day of the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas, on November 24, 2025.
Tugler has posted 11 games with 7+ rebounds, including back-to-back double-digit performances in win over Big 12-rivals Texas Tech and Baylor in early January.
A year ago, Tugler was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and received the Lefty Driesell Award, presented to the nation's top defensive player. He also was a finalist for the Naismith Award National Defensive Player of the Year.
ABOUT CHRIS CENAC Jr.Like Flemings, Cenac is in his first collegiate season after an award-winning high school career as the nation's No. 1 center.
The New Orleans native has competed in all 34 games with 33 starts, averaging 9.5 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds per game. He is poised to become the first freshman to lead the Cougars in rebounding since the 2011-12 season.
With 10 rebounds in the season opener against Lehigh (November 3) and 13 boards against Towson (November 8) inside Fertitta Center, Cenac became the first freshman in school history to record double-digit rebounding performances in the first two games of his career.
He has recorded 12 games with 10+ rebounds, including a career-14 boards in the Cougars' Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament Semifinal win over #14/16 Kansas on March 13.
Cenac scored a career-high 18 points with nine rebounds in Houston's win over #22/25 Auburn during the RxBenefits The Battleground 2k25 inside Legacy Arena at The BJCC in Birmingham, Ala., on November 16, 2025.
The 6-foot-10 forward/center also has shown range outside, draining a career-best three 3-point field goals in wins at Baylor (January 10), against Cincinnati (January 31) in Fertitta Center and against #14/16 Kansas (March 13) during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament.
NABC GULF DISTRICT HONORS
First Team
| Player | School |
| Kingston Flemings | Houston |
| Emanuel Sharp | Houston |
| Rashaun Agee | Texas A&M |
| Christian Anderson | Texas Tech |
| Cameron Carr | Baylor |
| Boopie Miller | SMU |
| David Punch | TCU |
| Dailyn Swain | Texas |
| Keon Thompson | Stephen F. Austin |
| JT Toppin | Texas Tech |
Second Team
| Player | School |
| Joseph Tugler | Houston |
| Chris Cenac Jr. | Houston |
| Rowan Brumbaugh | Tulane |
| DJ Hall | Texas State |
| Larry Johnson | McNeese |
| Po'Boigh King | Sam Houston |
| Lateef Patrick Jr. | Stephen F. Austin |
| Jaron Pierre Jr. | SMU |
| Matas Vokietaitis | Texas |
| Tounde Yessoufou | Baylor |
| District Coaches of the Year | Kelvin Sampson (Houston) Grant McCasland (Texas Tech |
BUY TICKETS
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
UP NEXT
• Sampson and the Cougars open the NCAA Tournament when they tip off against (15) Idaho at 9:10 p.m., Thursday, inside Paycom Center in Oklahoma Center.
• Fans can watch that game on truTV and hear it live on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app. The game also can be heard on Westwood One.
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 –
Players Mentioned
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