University of Houston Athletics
Photo by: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire
Houston Welcomes Frontcourt Star Josh Carlton
4/15/2021 6:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Joins Cougars as graduate transfer after playing at UConn
HOUSTON – Forward/center Josh Carlton recently signed a scholarship agreement and will compete with the University of Houston Men's Basketball program during the 2021-22 season, Head Coach Kelvin Sampson announced Thursday.Carlton played for four seasons at UConn before transferring to Houston. He will have one year of eligibility remaining with the start of the 2021-22 season.
Measuring 6-foot-11 and weighing 240 pounds, Carlton competed in 115 games with 82 starts during his UConn career. He enjoyed streaks of 97 consecutive games played with 66 straight starts and recorded eight double-doubles in his career.
"We liked Josh when we played against him two years ago at UConn. He comes from a winning program and has been well coached," Sampson said. "He has great size and great hands and can score the ball in the low post. Josh put up some big numbers against good teams in his career. He is going to help and will impact winning for us."
As a sophomore at UConn during the 2018-19 season, Carlton averaged 9.0 points per game and led the Huskies with 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game with a .607 field-goal percentage. That year, he scored 20 points with 16 rebounds against East Carolina and totaled 13 points with 11 rebounds in a season-ending loss to Houston, which finished with a school-record 33 wins, in The American Tournament.
By more than doubling his scoring average, nearly doubling his rebounding average and ranking first in the league in blocked shots in conference games, Carlton was named The American's Most Improved Player in 2019.
As a junior during the 2019-20 campaign, the Winterville, N.C., native averaged 7.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game with a .502 field goal percentage. Carlton totaled 13 points with 12 rebounds while playing all but two minutes against Wichita State and grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds against Memphis.
In his final season at UConn in 2020-21, Carlton scored nine points with a season-high 11 rebounds against eventual NCAA Tournament Elite Eight participant USC and scored 11 points with 10 rebounds against Big East rival DePaul.
Carlton joins Texas Texas transfer guard Kyler Edwards, Shadow Creek High School guard Ramon Walker, Monteverde (Fla.) Academy forward Ja'Vier Francis and Wasatch Academy (Utah) guard Robbie Armbrester in the Cougars' newcomer class for the 2021-22 season.
Murray signed with the Cougars earlier this week, while the three high school stars signed National Letters of Intent in November 2020.
JOIN the 2021-22 SEASON-TICKET PRIORITY WAIT LIST
Houston Men's Basketball fans can join the season ticket priority wait list for the 2021-22 season inside the Fertitta Center with a $75 deposit today. To place a deposit for the 2021 season, click here or call 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647).
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
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.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (46874).
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