University of Houston Athletics
Ikenna Alozie Joins Men’s Basketball on Friday
11/21/2025 11:23:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Talented guard will compete as a freshman with the Cougars beginning in 2026-27
HOUSTON – Point guard Ikenna Alozie became the newest member of the University of Houston Men's Basketball program after signing a financial aid agreement, Head Coach Kelvin Sampson announced Friday.Alozie – whose name is pronounced I-Ken-Uh Uh-Lo-Zee – will compete as a freshman beginning with the 2026-27 season and have four years of eligibility. He was recruited by Kansas, Alabama, Arizona, Louisville, Washington and Gonzaga.
He was ranked among the nation's Top-10 point guards by all recruiting organizations and among the country's Top-45 players overall with a #27 ranking in the ESPN100.
"We're excited about Ikenna. He is a highly explosive athlete, is strong and well built. He is made in the mold of Jamal Shead. He has elite athleticism and great power when he gets to the rim," Sampson said. "He is a really good on-ball defender and can change the game defensively with steals, deflection and run outs. He continues to improve on his shooting. Over time, we can develop him into a high-level player."
"Toughness and a hard worker are the first things I think about with Ikenna. In today's modern basketball, he has an old-school players mentality. He is going to outwork whoever he is going against. He fits the DNA and culture that Coach Sampson has built," Dream City Christian Coach Kyle Weaver said. "Off the court, Ikenna is amazing and no-nonsense. He handles his business and is a professional in all that he does. He has been loyal to us and trusted us the entire time. All his teammates love him, and I don't know anyone who could say a bad word about him. He is a phenomenal student-athlete and an A+ kid."
A native of Nigeria, Alozie moved to the United States and began playing in the Northeast in 2021. He first suited up for the Patrick School and stood out for the NY Rens on the Nike EYBL circuit that summer.
As a sophomore, he transferred to Dream City Christian School where he has competed for the last three years. He also played for the Utah Prospects on the 3SSB circuit and led that squad to a 3SSB championship.
During the summer of 2025, Alozie averaged 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 44.6 percent from the field with 29 total steals with the Utah Prospects.
Alozie is the second member of the Cougars' signing class of 2026. Center Arafan Diané (Iowa United Prep) joined the Cougars earlier this week
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UP NEXT
• The Cougars head to Las Vegas to compete at the Players Era Championship, beginning Monday.
• The Cougars open the prestigious event at 5 p.m. (CST), Nov. 24, against Syracuse before facing #20/17 Tennessee at 5 p.m. (CST), Nov. 25. Both of those games will air on TNT and HBO Max.
• Houston's final Players Era Championship opponent will be determined by results from the first two days.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC, the Varsity Network app and Sirius XM Radio.
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