University of Houston All-American Kingston Flemings declares for 2026 NBA draft

It's amazing to think how much life has changed for University of Houston guard Kingston Flemings in such a short amount of time.

"My main goal was just find a way I can help his team and winning, you know, coming here, I just wanted to win so bad, and that's the reason I chose here," Flemings said.

This time last year, he hadn't even graduated from high school. Today, he declared for the NBA draft.

"It's crazy how fast it went. I remember Coach talking about it, like 'you don't really see the end of the tunnel, but it's going to go by so fast,'" he said. "I will be declaring for the NBA draft."

He'll take his talents to the NBA, declaring for the draft on June 23. "I just want anyone I play with to enjoy playing with me, so whatever the coach is going to need, that's what I'm gonna go out there and do," Flemings said.

"You know, I don't have a one track mind. I don't care about scoring that much, I don't care about assist or anything like that, as long as we're winning; that's all I care about."

Kingston is humble, unselfish and the ultimate team player.

"The first thing that jumped out to me was how selfless and loyal he is," UH head basketball coach Kelvin Sampson said.

He has all the qualities an NBA team is looking for. He's projected to be taken in one of the top-ten picks, but Sampson believes he's better than that. "I don't think he's a top-ten pick, I think he's a top five pick if I was an NBA team, I'd draft him top five," Sampson said.

Kingston says he is a cougar for life and when talking about head coach Kelvin Sampson, he said he was a perfect fit that helped him grow not only as a player, but a man.

"Just to see these people and just the players and how they grow when they're here, you know, whether they're here for one year or two years, three years or four, he just grows everyone in different ways and in ways that's going to stick with them for life," Flemings said.

"We have a responsibility to develop him, Coach Sampson said. "He's not a number to us. He's not stats on a page to us. He is a living, breathing human being."

We'll have to wait until June 23 to see where he lands. "I'm proud of Kingston. Am I upset about it? Heck, no. I'm proud of him."

One thing we know for sure, the team that drafts him will not only get a great player, but an even better person.

"I'll be a cougar for life for sure. So thank you," Flemings said.