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Houston basketball remains committed to Kelvin Sampson following the disappointing Sweet 16 exit against Illinois. The Cougars have created a national power under the veteran head coach. But UH knows Sampson can’t coach forever.
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Sampson turns 71 during the 2026-27 season. He’s still searching for that elusive first-ever national championship.
Houston must replace prized freshman Kingston Flemings though, who’s off to the NBA Draft. Even fellow prized five-star signing Isiah Harwell exited H-Town by choosing Gonzaga in the College Basketball Transfer Portal.
UH managed to pull off one portal coup: Landing past UNLV star and LSU transfer Dedan Thomas Jr. as the early Flemings replacement. But Sampson and UH needs more than the past 15.3 points per game scorer here. Here’s one more portal target who can boost Houston’s national title chances.
Who Houston, Kelvin Sampson must target now
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Center is a spot needing depth moving forward.
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That market is starting to dry up in the portal. Past Big 12 rival Flory Bidunga bolted from Kansas to Louisville. Another past conference foe in Arizona State’s Massamba Diop is trending towards landing with St. John’s. Even Somto Cyril landed at Miami Sunday after leaving Georgia.
But Sampson and UH can pluck this four-star center out of the Big East: Najai Hines out of Seton Hall.
Hines isn’t the rim protecting machine like Bidunga. Nor does he possess the height of Diop and Cyril.
But Hines is a unit on the hardwood. He brings the physique of an NFL tight end and punishes foes with his frame. Hines’ quickness to the hoop should win over Sampson and Houston, though.
Hines played the bully ball made famous in the Big East. He leaves the South Orange, New Jersey campus averaging 6.5 points per game with 5.5 rebounds.
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Why Najai Hines can blend well at Houston
Hines adds more than center depth for UH. He brings the physicality that should translate well into, arguably, the best college basketball conference in the nation.
Houston already watched Arizona pound teams with its frontcourt before winning the Big 12. Texas Tech is one more structured greatly up front. Kansas presents a deep history of producing bigs under Bill Self.
Hines isn’t the most scary scoring threat, though. He never scored past 12 points in all of his games. But he delivered three of his four double-double outings against Big East competition, including UConn.
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Sampson needs a strong glass cleaning option moving forward. Plus UH can’t rely solely on guard play to win games. The loss to Illinois paints the perfect picture on why Houston must reload in the frontcourt. The 6-foot-10, 265-pound Hines rises as one of the best remaining bigs available.
Related: Kentucky basketball rumors: Wildcats leading the way in Rob Wright’s recruitment
Related: Pittsburgh Panthers sign former Alabama 5-star recruit in transfer portal
