HOUSTON – University of Houston guard Emanuel Sharp became the latest Cougar to enter the professional ranks when he was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the #45 overall pick in the Second Round of the 2026 NBA Draft includes Barclays Center on Tuesday night.
Sharp watched the Draft with his family, friends and Head Coach Kelvin Sampson and Assistant Coach K.C. Beard at a party in Orlando.
With Sharp’s selection, the 2025-26 Cougars set a school single-season record with their third student-athlete selected in the NBA Draft. Houston previously had two Men’s Basketball student-athletes taken in the 2023, 1987, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1978, 1975, 1973, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1961 and 1956 Drafts.
Point guard Kingston Flemings was taken with the #8 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks while forward Chris Cenac Jr. was selected with the #27 pick by the Boston Celtics in Tuesday’s First Round.
All three Cougars led Houston to a 30-7 overall record for the program’s fifth straight 30-win season (tying the NCAA Division I record) and the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the seventh consecutive season, the nation’s longest active streak.
With three NBA Draft picks, Houston tied with six other schools for the highest total in the 2026 Draft. The Cougars were joined by Arizona, Arkansas, Duke, Michigan, St. John’s and Tennessee.
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