Emanuel Sharp Selected in 2026 NBA Draft Second Round

Emanuel Sharp, NBA Draft, Sacramento Kings

ORLANDO, Fla. – 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. The Cougars were joined by Arizona, Arkansas, Duke, Michigan, St. John's and Tennessee.

DRAFT NOTES
Sharp became the fourth Cougar to be taken in the NBA Draft by the Kings franchise. He joined guard Alvin Franklin (1986 • Fourth Round • #80 overall); guard Otis Birdsong (1977 • First Round • #2 overall • Kansas City Kings) and forward Royce Ray (1952 • Ninth Round • #86 overall • Rochester Royals).

Sharp became the 12^th Cougar selected in the NBA Draft Second Round in program history. He is the most recent Second-Round selection since point guard Jamal Shead (2024 • Toronto Raptors).

Sharp became the second Cougar taken with the #45 overall pick in the NBA Draft. Point guard Jamal Shead was taken with the #45 pick by the Toronto Raptors in the Second Round of the 2024 Draft.

Sharp became the eighth Cougar to be drafted under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson. He also was the 20^th NBA Draft pick in Sampson's career.

The 1984 NBA Draft also featured three Cougars taken, but only two were Men's Basketball student-athletes. Track and Field legend Carl Lewis was taken in the 10^th Round by the Chicago Bulls despite having never played basketball in college. That same year, Lewis also was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Draft despite having never played football in college.

Emanuel Sharp dribbles a basketball

ABOUT EMANUEL SHARP
In five seasons with the Cougars, Sharp established himself as one of the nation's top guards.

In 2025-26, he collected All-Big 12 honors for the third consecutive season after being named Honorable Mention during each of the previous two years. For his impressive work, he was recognized as one of five finalists for the Jerry West Award, presented annually to the nation's top shooting guard.

He was one of three Cougars to start all 37 games and stands second on the team with 15.5 points per game. The Tampa, Fla., native led the Cougars and ranked among the Big 12 Conference Top-10 leaders in 3-point field goals per game (2.6) and 3-point field goal percentage (.372) and led the league with an 89.1 free throw percentage.

Sharp scored double-digit points in all but seven games this season with a season-high 27 points in wins over Florida State during the Houston Hoops Showdown inside Toyota Center on December 8 and at Big 12 rival Utah on February 10.

With a career-high eight 3-point field goals in the road win at Utah, he became only the eighth Cougar in school history to drain 8+ 3-pointers in a game, joining Cameron Tyson (twice), Robert McKiver (three times), Quentin Grimes, Marcus Sasser, Corey Davis Jr., Jherrod Stiggers and Andre Owens.

His trey total against the Utes also made him the Cougars' career 3-point field goal leader. Sharp moved past guard Marcus Sasser for the top spot and finished with 309 treys in his career.

Sharp finished second in Houston history with 125 career wins and ranked ninth in school history with 1,702 points.

He received his bachelor's degree in integrated studies from the University in May.

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