University of Houston Athletics
Guard Damian Dunn Joins Men’s Basketball
4/12/2023 11:54:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Veteran guard will compete as a senior in 2023-24 with two years of eligibility
HOUSTON – Guard Damian Dunn has joined the University of Houston Men's Basketball program and will compete as a senior during the 2023-24 season after signing a scholarship agreement, Head Coach Kelvin Sampson announced Wednesday.
Dunn joins the Cougars after an award-winning career at Temple and will have two years of eligibility beginning in 2023-24.
"One of the things about Damian that jumped out at me after competing against him for three years was the way he carried himself. He is a tough kid, but he is a mature kid. Basketball is his life," Sampson said. "His ability to get to the free throw line keeps teams from having long scoring droughts."
"He wanted to come to Houston. He knew what he was getting into here. He feels like this will elevate his game and help him reach his goals. There is a methodical way that he plays. He has an old man's game, and that's a good thing. A lot of NBA guys have old-man games," Sampson said. "We expect him to come in here and impact winning from day one."
As a junior in 2022-23, Dunn competed in 30 games with 19 starts and averaged 15.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game on the way to earning All-American Athletic Conference Third-Team honors. He opened the season with 29 points against Wagner – thanks to an 18-of-18 performance from the free throw line – and added a career-high 38 points with seven 3-pointers against Vanderbilt in overtime.
Dunn also drained a pair of free throws with 66 seconds remaining to lift the Owls to a 56-55 win over the Cougars inside the Fertitta Center on Jan. 22.
In 2021-22, Dunn posted 14.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while earning All-American Athletic Conference Second-Team honors and similar accolades from NABC All-District and All-Philadelphia Big 5.
As a redshirt freshman in 2020-21, Dunn led Temple and finished 10th in The American with 13.5 points per game and was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team in voting by the head coaches. He also was named the league's Freshman of the Week three times.
Dunn entered the collegiate ranks as a freshman with the Owls in 2019-20 but competed in only one game due to a foot injury.
A native of Kinston, N.C., Dunn played as a senior at Meadowcreek (Ga.) High School and led the Mustangs to a 26-6 record with an appearance in the state championship. As a junior at Kinston High School, Dunn averaged 17.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in leading the Vikings to the No. 1 seed in the NCHSAA 2A Eastern bracket and a share of the ECC championship.
Dunn and the Cougars will begin their first season of competition in the Big 12 during the 2023-24 season.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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 (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter 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.
Dunn joins the Cougars after an award-winning career at Temple and will have two years of eligibility beginning in 2023-24.
"One of the things about Damian that jumped out at me after competing against him for three years was the way he carried himself. He is a tough kid, but he is a mature kid. Basketball is his life," Sampson said. "His ability to get to the free throw line keeps teams from having long scoring droughts.""He wanted to come to Houston. He knew what he was getting into here. He feels like this will elevate his game and help him reach his goals. There is a methodical way that he plays. He has an old man's game, and that's a good thing. A lot of NBA guys have old-man games," Sampson said. "We expect him to come in here and impact winning from day one."
As a junior in 2022-23, Dunn competed in 30 games with 19 starts and averaged 15.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game on the way to earning All-American Athletic Conference Third-Team honors. He opened the season with 29 points against Wagner – thanks to an 18-of-18 performance from the free throw line – and added a career-high 38 points with seven 3-pointers against Vanderbilt in overtime.
Dunn also drained a pair of free throws with 66 seconds remaining to lift the Owls to a 56-55 win over the Cougars inside the Fertitta Center on Jan. 22.
In 2021-22, Dunn posted 14.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while earning All-American Athletic Conference Second-Team honors and similar accolades from NABC All-District and All-Philadelphia Big 5.
As a redshirt freshman in 2020-21, Dunn led Temple and finished 10th in The American with 13.5 points per game and was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team in voting by the head coaches. He also was named the league's Freshman of the Week three times.
Dunn entered the collegiate ranks as a freshman with the Owls in 2019-20 but competed in only one game due to a foot injury.
A native of Kinston, N.C., Dunn played as a senior at Meadowcreek (Ga.) High School and led the Mustangs to a 26-6 record with an appearance in the state championship. As a junior at Kinston High School, Dunn averaged 17.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in leading the Vikings to the No. 1 seed in the NCHSAA 2A Eastern bracket and a share of the ECC championship.
Dunn and the Cougars will begin their first season of competition in the Big 12 during the 2023-24 season.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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 (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter 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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