Get to know the Coogs, in order of importance:
1) Kingston Flemings - 6’4 190lbs, FR
This kid is unquestionably their best player. My favorite freshman in a loaded Big 12 class, which is saying a lot. Hard to call him the best w/ Peterson and Dybantsa around, but he’s right there. Personally, he’d be my take of the litter. True scoring Point Guard, but facilitates and makes plays for others at an elite level too. Elite first step, plays with great pace. Can blow by anyone, but has a great feel for setting ppl up too. He’s never reckless or out of control. Will make the easy pass and the flashy pass. Unstoppable getting downhill, clutch and accurate mid range pull up. Elite wrong foot runners, scoop shots, and reverses. Crazy blend of athleticism, craftiness, and just a shot maker and gutsy baller.
NEGATIVES: He wants to score on the move off the bounce. Doesn’t want to play off two feet, not the best stationary or re-catch shooter. Slight build, no traditional post game, can’t play with his back to the basket. Not someone you can post up guards with. if we can bottle him up, he will struggle with the strength and inside game of both Lipsey and Toure on both ends. Easier said than done tho, this kid has a high IQ and a great handle w/ athleticism. Not a natural 3 point shooter, but he’s plenty capable and clutch at nearly 37%.
Cyclone Comp: Lindell Wigginton (in physical ability), but has more elements of Morris and Haliburton in how he actually goes about things. A flashier version of Senior Monte Morris would probably be the best ISU comp.
2) Chris Cenac- 6’11 240lbs, FR
This kid is a monster physically. Long, athletic, strong, and mobile as heck. Elite midrange jump shooter. Chris Bosh-type skill set. Can rebound at will and plays above the rim with ease. His 12-20 foot jumper is AUTOMATIC. That’s his shot, that’s what he wants to do. Can guard the perimeter with ease. Good 3 point shooter too, but that’s not really his game. Very skilled Stretch 4 game but with the size of a 5.
NEGATIVES: you gotta start with foul trouble. Really has a hard time figuring out when to defend aggressively and when to just be big. Will pick up head-scratching fouls that make UH fans pull their hair out. Not a back to the basket big. Traditional post game is still a work-in-progress. Average handle, reluctant to get downhill. Not particularly physical for how big he is, but he’s more capable of banging than like a Toppin, just not really sure how to do it at this level at the right times consistently. Usually gets sloppy when he does on both ends. I wouldn’t really call him a finesse big, he’s long and strong. Just a weird mixture of really skilled and raw at the same time. Has filled the J’Wan Roberts role pretty well, but does it COMPLETELY differently.
Cyclone Comp: Craig Brackins
3) Emanuel Sharp - 6’3 205lbs, SR
Coach Sampson affectionately calls him Crash. This guy is all gas and a bull in a China shop. Makes all the hustle and toughness plays, but has unlimited range and never seen a shot he doesn’t like. He’s the one guy on this team that will pull from anywhere at any time on the shot clock. Great defender, strong and quick enough to help in all aspects anywhere on the court at that end. Absolutely fearless competitor.
NEGATIVES: really perimeter oriented scorer for how strong he is. Can get to the cup, but he’s not really Elite with it. Can get to the line, but not really Elite with that either. Lacks length and spring, he’s a below the rim guy 100%. That said, not much of a post up, back to the basket threat. None of their guards are, which is something I think ISU can exploit. Sharp can get himself into foul trouble too, will pick up cheap ones because he’s uber aggressive and can get out of control sometimes. Not really a facilitator, not someone you’d want running the point. So he’s a wing that doesn’t play particularly long and athletic… tho I’m saying that in the context of that is a high bar for his position in this league. Aside from hitting jump shots, he’s a little bit limited in the ways he can hurt you from a prime wing-scoring perspective. His 3pt percentage is a little down at just under 37%. He’s pretty streaky this year. Without Cryer, there’s more pressure on him to stretch the defense. When he’s on, they are a different team. When he’s off, you can KIND OF dare Houston to shoot 3s a little bit.
Cyclone Comp: Tyrus McGee (more of a wing-only version of Naz Long, too)
4) JoJo Tugler- 6’7 230lbs, JR
Don’t let his modest height fool you, this guy is a true rim protector of the highest order. Crazy athletic and mobile with a wing span that is off the charts for his size. Can defend all 5 positions, he’s a defensive coach’s dream. Makes all the hustle and toughness plays. Low ego. Will be everywhere on every play and makes things just so hard on opposing teams to score. One of the best recovering shot blockers I’ve ever seen. He’s so mobile and long, quick jumper. Tough as nails. People dismiss him offensively, but I think he’s having a really good year for them. Will get a lot of 1-on-1 opportunities and can be effective there. For what he is, he’s actually a really good FT shooter and he’s clutch, so you can’t just put him on the line anymore or leave him completely unguarded. Tugler is the enforcer and ultimate culture guy. The heart and soul of this team, like the post-version of Emanuel Sharp who he shares that distinction with. Tugler is the centerpiece of their defensive identity, an identity that everyone always talks about but doesn’t go into detail enough with IMO. He impacts the game very similarly to Hasan Ward or Cam Lard, but he does it in a very BRE packaging.
NEGATIVES: again, foul trouble. His foul rate gets him in a lot of trouble. He’s very experienced tho, so sometimes now it’s not necessarily his fault all the time, but he is vulnerable to picking up multiple fouls in a hurry because of how physical and aggressive he is. Limited offensive game, will never be a great scorer. Or really hurt you a WHOLE lot offensively in general.
Cyclone Comp: Robert Jones (a more versatile, slightly less limited version)
5) Milos Uzan- 6’4 183lbs, SR
For those of us who haven’t paid close attention to UH, this will be the biggest learning curve. Milos Uzan has had to slide over to the wing and take a back seat to the Kingston Flemings show. He’s a Point Guard steady-eddy SOMEWHAT game manager type, who has been asked to be an elite wing. When he can do the things he’s good at, he’s a really good player. But those opportunities are few and far between this year. He’s tall, solid, athletic enough. A good teammate. Capable shooter and capable scorer in general. Really good facilitator with the ball in his hands where he can survey the defense and make plays in a deliberate way. Really good versatile defender with his length and under-control style. Very smart basketball player in general, very cerebral.
NEGATIVES: this guy is mentally going thru it. Not an elite catch and shoot guy. He’s down to under 33% from deep. He’s always open, and his misses come in bunches. He’s also not really an explosive 1st step scorer, he wants to operate the show with the ball in his hands and not be rushed. Not a creative attacking scorer, can’t really hurt you from the baseline or flying downhill to beat rotations like a wing needs to do. His fit with this year’s team is still a work-in-progress, and I question if it will ever fully come together for him, unfortunately.
Cyclone Comp: Nick Weiler-Babb
6) Ramon Walker- 6’4 210lbs, SR
I actually really like this guy, but their bench roles still have some kinks to work out. Walker is a gritty glue guy who can play bigger than his size, a tough guard who can help keep the ship afloat in a small ball context. UH lacks quality big depth in particular, this is where Walker has his biggest value IMO. They have more bench options they can play with if Tugler and Cenac can stay out of foul trouble. However, with all due respect to the Coogs, there’s not much to say about Walker that will stand out readily, either statistically or by the eyeball test.
He can do guard things capably. He’ll make a shot, a nice pass, a solid aggressive drive. Shoots a good percentage, but his usage is very low. But where he really helps is he is a surprisingly good defender and rebounder when they ask him to mix it up in the paint and hold down the fort for foul-ridden Bigs. Any scoring you get from him is gravy, which will happen. He played awesome in this context against Tennessee, for example. Not an easy task against a talented roster, but it wasn’t enough to get the team over the hump. I really like Walker, so I put him 6th in importance ahead of even their back up big. But this is very much up for debate with their own fans. Many of them would rather see McCarty in that spot, who is technically more of a foward, and further still many of them would rather see Harwell or Miller in at guard before Walker (they are probably better natural scoring threats). So things are very much in flux and not solidifed when you start dipping into Houston’s bench…which is why being aggressive and trying to get them in foul trouble is crucial, especially at home.
Cyclone Comp: Jake Anderson
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