University of Houston Athletics
Kingston Flemings, Chris Cenac Jr., Selected in 2026 NBA Draft First Round
6/23/2026 7:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Watch – Kingston Flemings (YouTube)Watch – Chris Cenac Jr. (YouTube)Watch Second Round on ESPNNBA Draft History
Flemings taken with #8 pick by Atlanta Hawks; Cenac Jr chosen by Boston Celtics with #27 overall pick
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – University of Houston point guard Kingston Flemings and forward/center Chris Cenac Jr. became First-Round picks with their selections during the 2026 NBA Draft inside Barclays Center on Tuesday night.
Flemings was taken with the #8 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks while Cenac was tabbed with the #27 pick by the Boston Celtics.
As true freshmen in 2025-26 Flemings and Cenac led the Cougars 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.
This marked the fourth NBA Draft in which multiple Cougars were selected in the First Round. That group includes forward Jarace Walker (Indiana Pacers • #8 overall) and guard Marcus Sasser (Detroit Pistons • #25 overall) in 2023; center Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets • #1 overall) and forward Michael Young (Boston Celtics • #24 overall) in 1984 and forward Elvin Hayes (San Diego Rockets • #1 overall) and guard Don Chaney (Boston Celtics • #12 overall)
This also marked the 14th NBA Draft in which multiple Cougars were taken in any round. The Cougars have never had three Men's Basketball student-athletes taken in a single draft.
Guard Emanuel Sharp and point guard Milos Uzan look to set a school single-season record with the NBA Draft Second Round beginning Wednesday night inside Barclays Center.
DRAFT NOTES
Flemings and Cenac became only the third and fourth Cougar freshmen to be selected in the NBA Draft, joining forward Jarace Walker (Indiana Pacers • 2023) and Alton Ford (Phoenix Suns • 2001). They joined Walker as the only Houston freshmen taken in the First Round.
Flemings became the fourth Cougar to be selected by the Atlanta Hawks and the first since forward Dwight Jones was taken with the #9 pick of the 1973 Draft. He joined other Hawk draftees guard Poo Welch (1971 • Fourth Round • #56 overall) and forward Arthur Helms (1956 • 13th Round • #86 overall).
Cenac became the fifth Cougar to be selected by the Boston Celtics and the first since forward Michael Young was taken with the #24 pick of the 1984 Draft. He joined other Hawk draftees guard Don Chaney (1968 • First Round • #12 overall), guard Gary Phillips (1961 • First Round • #9 overall) and center Don Boldebuck (1956 • Sixth Round • #46 overall).
With Cenac's selection, the Celtics stand second with the most Cougar draft picks in school history. Boston trails only the six Draft picks by the Chicago Bulls
Flemings and Cenac became the 15th and 16th Cougars to be selected in the NBA Draft First Round. They were the first since forward Jarace Walker in 2023 (Indiana Pacers).
Flemings joined forward Jarace Walker (2023 • Indiana Pacers • First Round) as the only Cougars to be taken with the #8 overall pick.
Flemings became Houston's eighth Top-10 selection in the NBA Draft.
Flemings and Cenac became the sixth and seventh Cougars to be drafted under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson. They also were the 18th and 19th NBA Draft picks in Sampson's career.
Flemings and Cenac became Head Coach Kelvin Sampson's eighth and ninth NBA Draft First-Round selections and his fourth and fifth as Houston's head coach.
ABOUT KINGSTON FLEMINGS
In his first season in the Scarlet and White, Flemings dazzled college basketball fans. He was a consensus Second-Team All-American and became the first freshman in program history to earn All-America honors.
He was one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, presented to the nation's top collegiate point guard by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Flemings was one of three student-athletes who were unanimous selections for the All-Big 12 Conference First Team and was one of four unanimous choices for the All-Freshman squad.
He became the first Cougar freshman to be named to an All-Conference First Team since guard Rob Williams was named to the 1979-80 All-Southwest Conference squad.
In 2025-26, Flemings led the Cougars and ranked among the Big 12 Top-20 leaders with 16.1 points, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game while hitting 47.6 percent of his shots from the field and 38.7 percent from behind the arc. He paces the Cougars with 12 20-point games, including three straight in late January.
With 594 points in 2025-26, Flemings set the Houston freshman single-season scoring record, besting Williams' 456 points during the 1979-80 season, and ranked second in school freshman single-season history with his scoring average.
He posted a career-high 42 points on 15-of-26 shooting at #12/12 Texas Tech on January 24 to set the school freshman single-game scoring record. He became only the 12th Cougar of any class to score 40+ points in a game and topped the previous freshman scoring record of 34 points by Williams against Rice on February 25, 1980.
Flemings scored nine points in the final two minutes and added five assists with three rebounds and a blocked shot in the Cougars' 69-65 win over #14/14 Texas Tech inside Fertitta Center on January 6.
After scoring 22 points with five rebounds, seven assists and a blocked shot in a win over #22/25 Auburn during the RxBenefits The Battleground 2k25 in Birmingham, Ala., on November 16, Flemings was honored as the USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week as well as the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Week.
Flemings joined the Cougars after an award-winning prep career at Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas.
ABOUT CHRIS CENAC Jr.
Cenac competed in his first collegiate season in 2025-26 after an award-winning high school career as the nation's #1 center.
The New Orleans native competed in all 37 games with 36 starts, averaging 9.5 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game. He became the first freshman to lead the Cougars in rebounding since the 2011-12 season.
With 10 rebounds in the season opener against Lehigh (November 3) and 13 boards against Towson (November 8) inside Fertitta Center, Cenac became the first freshman in school history to record double-digit rebounding performances in the first two games of his career.
He recorded 14 games with 10+ rebounds, including a career-14 boards in the Cougars' Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament Semifinal win over #14/16 Kansas on March 13.
Cenac scored a career-high 18 points with nine rebounds in Houston's win over #22/25 Auburn during the RxBenefits The Battleground 2k25 inside Legacy Arena at The BJCC in Birmingham, Ala., on November 16, 2025.
The 6-foot-10 forward/center also has shown range outside, draining a career-best three 3-point field goals in wins at Baylor (January 10), against Cincinnati (January 31) in Fertitta Center and against #14/16 Kansas (March 13) during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament.
For his impressive work all season, Cenac was named to the All-Gulf District Second Team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
He joined Houston after playing for Link Academy in Branson, Mo.
HOW to WATCH
Fans can watch the NBA Draft Second Round beginning at 7 p.m. (CDT), Wednesday, on ESPN or by clicking here.
BUY TICKETS
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
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.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X 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.
Flemings was taken with the #8 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks while Cenac was tabbed with the #27 pick by the Boston Celtics.
As true freshmen in 2025-26 Flemings and Cenac led the Cougars 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.
This marked the fourth NBA Draft in which multiple Cougars were selected in the First Round. That group includes forward Jarace Walker (Indiana Pacers • #8 overall) and guard Marcus Sasser (Detroit Pistons • #25 overall) in 2023; center Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets • #1 overall) and forward Michael Young (Boston Celtics • #24 overall) in 1984 and forward Elvin Hayes (San Diego Rockets • #1 overall) and guard Don Chaney (Boston Celtics • #12 overall)
This also marked the 14th NBA Draft in which multiple Cougars were taken in any round. The Cougars have never had three Men's Basketball student-athletes taken in a single draft.
Guard Emanuel Sharp and point guard Milos Uzan look to set a school single-season record with the NBA Draft Second Round beginning Wednesday night inside Barclays Center.
DRAFT NOTES
Flemings and Cenac became only the third and fourth Cougar freshmen to be selected in the NBA Draft, joining forward Jarace Walker (Indiana Pacers • 2023) and Alton Ford (Phoenix Suns • 2001). They joined Walker as the only Houston freshmen taken in the First Round.
Flemings became the fourth Cougar to be selected by the Atlanta Hawks and the first since forward Dwight Jones was taken with the #9 pick of the 1973 Draft. He joined other Hawk draftees guard Poo Welch (1971 • Fourth Round • #56 overall) and forward Arthur Helms (1956 • 13th Round • #86 overall).
Cenac became the fifth Cougar to be selected by the Boston Celtics and the first since forward Michael Young was taken with the #24 pick of the 1984 Draft. He joined other Hawk draftees guard Don Chaney (1968 • First Round • #12 overall), guard Gary Phillips (1961 • First Round • #9 overall) and center Don Boldebuck (1956 • Sixth Round • #46 overall).
With Cenac's selection, the Celtics stand second with the most Cougar draft picks in school history. Boston trails only the six Draft picks by the Chicago Bulls
Flemings and Cenac became the 15th and 16th Cougars to be selected in the NBA Draft First Round. They were the first since forward Jarace Walker in 2023 (Indiana Pacers).
Flemings joined forward Jarace Walker (2023 • Indiana Pacers • First Round) as the only Cougars to be taken with the #8 overall pick.
Flemings became Houston's eighth Top-10 selection in the NBA Draft.
Flemings and Cenac became the sixth and seventh Cougars to be drafted under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson. They also were the 18th and 19th NBA Draft picks in Sampson's career.
Flemings and Cenac became Head Coach Kelvin Sampson's eighth and ninth NBA Draft First-Round selections and his fourth and fifth as Houston's head coach.
ABOUT KINGSTON FLEMINGSIn his first season in the Scarlet and White, Flemings dazzled college basketball fans. He was a consensus Second-Team All-American and became the first freshman in program history to earn All-America honors.
He was one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, presented to the nation's top collegiate point guard by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Flemings was one of three student-athletes who were unanimous selections for the All-Big 12 Conference First Team and was one of four unanimous choices for the All-Freshman squad.
He became the first Cougar freshman to be named to an All-Conference First Team since guard Rob Williams was named to the 1979-80 All-Southwest Conference squad.
In 2025-26, Flemings led the Cougars and ranked among the Big 12 Top-20 leaders with 16.1 points, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game while hitting 47.6 percent of his shots from the field and 38.7 percent from behind the arc. He paces the Cougars with 12 20-point games, including three straight in late January.
With 594 points in 2025-26, Flemings set the Houston freshman single-season scoring record, besting Williams' 456 points during the 1979-80 season, and ranked second in school freshman single-season history with his scoring average.
He posted a career-high 42 points on 15-of-26 shooting at #12/12 Texas Tech on January 24 to set the school freshman single-game scoring record. He became only the 12th Cougar of any class to score 40+ points in a game and topped the previous freshman scoring record of 34 points by Williams against Rice on February 25, 1980.
Flemings scored nine points in the final two minutes and added five assists with three rebounds and a blocked shot in the Cougars' 69-65 win over #14/14 Texas Tech inside Fertitta Center on January 6.
After scoring 22 points with five rebounds, seven assists and a blocked shot in a win over #22/25 Auburn during the RxBenefits The Battleground 2k25 in Birmingham, Ala., on November 16, Flemings was honored as the USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week as well as the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Week.
Flemings joined the Cougars after an award-winning prep career at Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas.
ABOUT CHRIS CENAC Jr.Cenac competed in his first collegiate season in 2025-26 after an award-winning high school career as the nation's #1 center.
The New Orleans native competed in all 37 games with 36 starts, averaging 9.5 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game. He became the first freshman to lead the Cougars in rebounding since the 2011-12 season.
With 10 rebounds in the season opener against Lehigh (November 3) and 13 boards against Towson (November 8) inside Fertitta Center, Cenac became the first freshman in school history to record double-digit rebounding performances in the first two games of his career.
He recorded 14 games with 10+ rebounds, including a career-14 boards in the Cougars' Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament Semifinal win over #14/16 Kansas on March 13.
Cenac scored a career-high 18 points with nine rebounds in Houston's win over #22/25 Auburn during the RxBenefits The Battleground 2k25 inside Legacy Arena at The BJCC in Birmingham, Ala., on November 16, 2025.
The 6-foot-10 forward/center also has shown range outside, draining a career-best three 3-point field goals in wins at Baylor (January 10), against Cincinnati (January 31) in Fertitta Center and against #14/16 Kansas (March 13) during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament.
For his impressive work all season, Cenac was named to the All-Gulf District Second Team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
He joined Houston after playing for Link Academy in Branson, Mo.
HOW to WATCH
Fans can watch the NBA Draft Second Round beginning at 7 p.m. (CDT), Wednesday, on ESPN or by clicking here.
BUY TICKETS
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
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.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X 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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