Kelvin Sampson has not had to worry much about the point guard position at Houston, going all the way back to Rob Gray’s emergence as a star early in his tenure. He has developed high-level players in that position better than anyone else in the sport in the last decade.
In recent years, the names have become better known. Jamal Shead was an elite two-way force and All-American before filling an important role with the Toronto Raptors. Milos Uzan and LJ Cryer filled that void left by Shead, bringing the Cougars within a few seconds of winning the national championship in 2025. And last season, Kingston Flemings emerged as arguably the best offensive threat Houston has had under Sampson.
That lead guard role now belongs to Dedan Thomas Jr., who committed out of LSU on April 11.
Thomas was not one of the more high-profile transfers of the offseason — especially given the chaos brought on by the five-in-five lawsuits and eligibility questions facing players from overseas. However, his talent and Houston's structure give him a real chance to be one of the nation’s most impactful newcomers when we look back on the season to come.