Kingston Flemings, Chris Cenac Jr., Selected in 2026 NBA Draft First Round

HOUSTON – University of Houston point guard Kingston Flemings and forward/center Chris Cenac Jr. became First-Round picks with their selections during the 2026 NBA Draft inside Barclays Center on Tuesday night.

Flemings was taken with the #8 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks while Cenac was tabbed with the #27 pick by the Boston Celtics.

As true freshmen in 2025-26 Flemings and Cenac led the Cougars 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.

This marked the fourth NBA Draft in which multiple Cougars were selected in the First Round. That group includes forward Jarace Walker (Indiana Pacers • #8 overall) and guardMarcus Sasser (Detroit Pistons • #25 overall) in 2023; center Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets • #1 overall) and forward Michael Young (Boston Celtics • #24 overall) in 1984 and forward Elvin Hayes (San Diego Rockets • #1 overall) and guardDon Chaney (Boston Celtics • #12 overall)

This also marked the 14^th NBA Draft in which multiple Cougars were taken in any round. The Cougars have never had three Men’s Basketball student-athletes taken in a single draft.

Guard Emanuel Sharp and point guard Milos Uzan look to set a school single-season record with the NBA Draft Second Round beginning Wednesday night inside Barclays Center.