Houston Basketball: Honest Bunch Why Top-Tier Talent Is The Most Important Team Transfer For 2024-25
In recent years, Houston has been experiencing considerable success. Kelvin Sampson has successfully reformed and developed the program over the past decade, culminating in the Cougars claiming a regular season title in their inaugural season in the Big 12. Demonstrating remarkable adaptability, Houston swiftly adjusted to their new conference environment and managed to progress to the Sweet Sixteen, extending their postseason run.
Unfortunately, Jamal Shead’s injury during the Sweet Sixteen game has left the Cougars without his contribution, as the standout guard has departed for the NBA. Nonetheless, much of the talent from their rotation remains, with the exception of Damian Dunn, who transferred several months earlier. The team will benefit from an additional playing time from four of their five starters, notably LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp.
It is quite unusual in the current landscape of college basketball for a team to retain as much talent from one season to the next, yet that’s not the only distinctive aspect of this squad. Due to limited opportunities, Sampson and his coaching staff did not need to heavily recruit from the Transfer Portal. As a result, the focus now lies on their singular significant addition from another school.
This solitary addition is Milos Uzan, a former Top 100 prospect from Las Vegas who previously played two seasons at Oklahoma, providing invaluable experience with the Big 12. Fresh from a solid but unremarkable sophomore season, during which he averaged 9.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, Uzan’s shooting performance dipped in his second year. However, there is optimism that a change in environment might yield an improvement in this aspect.
The young point guard fills a specific role within the Houston team, which has seen a revolving door of talented backcourt players in recent times. While there are no immediate expectations for Uzan to replicate the performances of Marcus Sasser or the departed Shead, it is believed that he possesses the potential to make significant progress in his development. With Sampson and his coaching staff providing guidance, Houston is viewed as an ideal environment for Uzan to refine his skills.
Although the spotlight is currently on Uzan due to being the sole addition, he seamlessly integrates with the existing talent on the roster. While he may not replicate Shead’s impact, there is hope that Uzan can elevate his defensive abilities and rediscover his shooting touch, especially considering his impressive 40% three-point shooting rate as a freshman. Furthermore, even if this transformation does not transpire immediately, Cryer and Sharp are more than capable of shouldering the responsibilities.
Great anticipation accompanied Uzan’s sophomore season at the Sooners, but he fell short of meeting those high expectations. As he transitions to an upperclassman role at Houston, with the added experience he has gained, it raises curiosity about whether his performance will improve. Observers eagerly await to see if the upcoming season will mark yet another outstanding period for the Cougars, and what part Uzan will assume in the team’s journey
