Coach Kelvin Sampson has primarily relied on developing local talent to build the Houston Cougars into a top-tier program. However, he’s also started using the transfer portal to strengthen his roster.
Although Houston only has three transfers—tied with Duke for the fewest among Final Four teams—each has played a vital role.
LJ Cryer spent three years at Baylor before transferring to Houston. A key contributor to Baylor’s 2021 championship run, Cryer is now Houston’s leading scorer, averaging 15.4 points per game.
Milos Uzan came to Houston this season after two years at Oklahoma. Known for his sharpshooting, Uzan has improved his scoring, currently averaging 11.6 points per game while shooting 44.5% from three-point range.
Mylik Wilson, who joined Houston alongside Cryer, played last season at Texas Tech. Before that, he started his college career at Louisiana. Now in his second season with the Cougars, Wilson serves as a reliable role player, averaging 5.6 points per game.
Aside from these transfers, Sampson continues to thrive as a top recruiter for Houston’s basketball program.