Houston Cougars Transfer Portal 2026: Dedan Thomas, Gillespie Headline Class
Date Published
The Houston Cougars transfer portal class is locked in for the 2026-27 season, and head coach Kelvin Sampson hauled in one of the deeper hauls in the Big 12. Six commitments, including LSU guard Dedan Thomas Jr. and Kent State forward Delrecco Gillespie, headline the rebuild after Houston's Sweet 16 exit at the hands of Illinois closed out a 30-7 campaign at the Fertitta Center.
Houston's portal strategy targeted experienced college producers who fit Sampson's identity: tough, disciplined, and rebound-first. With LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, and J'Wan Roberts all out of eligibility, the staff had real holes to fill across the backcourt and the frontline. The new class addresses both.
Full Houston Cougars transfer portal class
The six transfer commitments include Dedan Thomas Jr. from LSU, Delrecco Gillespie from Kent State, Corey Hadnot II from Purdue Fort Wayne, Braden East from Lamar, plus high school five-star center Arafan Diane and four-star guard Ikenna Alozie in the recruiting class. Thomas Jr. brings high-major guard play and the kind of pick-and-roll creation Sampson's offense has lacked since Marcus Sasser. Gillespie averaged a near double-double at Kent State and slots in as a power-forward replacement for Roberts.
Corey Hadnot II is the Houston-area story here. A three-year contributor at Purdue Fort Wayne, Hadnot grew up in Houston and ranked 122nd overall in the spring portal. Braden East comes over from Lamar after averaging 12.8 points and 9.1 rebounds as a sophomore. For more on the Cougars program leading into 2026-27, see our Houston season finale recap.
Returning Cougars and roster impact
Five players return for Houston in 2026-27: Joseph Tugler, Chase McCarthy, Kordel Jefferson, Mercy Miller, and Bryce Jackson. Tugler is the headliner and likely 2026-27 frontcourt anchor after his breakout role in the 2025-26 NCAA Tournament. Miller and Jackson give the backcourt a returning rotation, and McCarthy adds veteran wing play.
Add Thomas Jr. and Gillespie to that core, and Houston has a top-15 preseason ceiling. Sampson has now reached three Sweet 16 appearances in four years, and the portal moves suggest the staff is building to keep that streak running through 2027. The Fertitta Center has hosted a sold-out home schedule for three straight seasons, and the demand is unlikely to slip. Track the full ramp-up on our University of Houston coverage page.
What comes next for UH basketball
Summer workouts begin at the Guy V. Lewis Development Facility in June. Sampson typically schedules a foreign tour every four years, and Houston is due, so a late-summer trip remains possible. The Big 12 schedule release usually drops in late September, and Houston has been a regular in early-November preseason top-five rankings.
Houston's portal class has the talent, experience, and Sampson-style fit to keep the program in the national title race. For broader Houston college sports updates, follow our Houston sports section.
Roster details verified via Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Network, and Yahoo Sports.