The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Kelvin Sampson Shares Insights on Former Cougars Ahead of the NBA Draft

Episode Date: June 22, 2026

Kelvin Sampson Shares Insights on Former Cougars Ahead of the NBA Draft

We are pleased to be joined now by the head coach of the greatest school in the country, University of Houston. Coach Calvin Samson is going to have a special day. He's going to watch two of his young men become first round draft picks tomorrow in the NBA draft. The New York coach Samson joins us before that event. Coach, first of all, belated happy Father's Day. And this is becoming an old hat for you seeing your young men become first round picks in the NBA the last handful of years. Well, milated happy Father's Day to you, my friend. Hey, how's your daughter?

Is she playing volleyball? She's going to be playing at the University of Rhode Island. I've already asked Archie Miller to play you in basketball, and he's like, there's no chance, no way that's going to happen. So I try. Well, congratulations. Congratulations on that. That's awesome.

That says a lot about her commitment and hard work, dedication to be a Division I, scholarship athlete. That's great. I know you're doing your wife for happy. We are very happy. And thank God because the club money I've spent and you know about the AAU circuit. That ain't cheap for mom and dad, to be honest with you, coach. No.

No. What you're saving scholarship, you spend in travel and hotels and all that stuff almost. Yep, yep. So tell me you're going to be in New York tomorrow. You've got to be pleased this punch. I mean, these young men have only been on the campus one year. But I feel like from the time, and you've always done this with your kids, kids, they've grown both as basketball players and his men in a very short period of time.

Yeah. You know, in 23, Quantis and I was there for Jarrett went eight. And then I think I was actually doing an interview when a commissioner gets up and announces that there's been a trade. Memphis picks Marcus Sasser with the 25th pick. So we had two guys, a lottery pick and a. 25th pick that year. So that was awesome.

This year, Kingston's going to go somewhere in the top 10. CNAQ is Chris will be in the first round. And then Emmanuel and Milos both will be drafted somewhere. So it's a great year for great time for our basketball program. Could not be more proud of these young men for reaching their friends goals. When the two young men declared for the draft, I mean, that

couldn't come as a surprise to you, first and foremost, because they were talked about even before they stepped on campus. But do you have a standard words of wisdom to each of these young men that you've seen, or is each individual kid different when it comes to as to take the next step into the NBA? Yeah, I think

they're different. I didn't expect, and I think Kingston and his family would tell you the same. We didn't expect Kingston to be a one and done. But when he got here in June, it was clear that he was the best player on this team. So we had to shuffle the deck a little bit. And then Chris, just got better and better as the year went on. But you know, Matt, they're both still only 19 years old. So these kids are going in. They're not NBA players. They're not NBA players.

today. They're 18 years old. It's like Jalen Green when he got drafted. You know, he's he wasn't an NBA player that first year. He was in the NBA, but he wasn't a guided impacted winning. So Kingston's going to impact winning, probably a little quicker maybe than Chris, but Chris is going to be a long-time productive NBA player, as will Kingston. And the fact that one's going to go into the lottery, one's going to go into first round, much like Jarrett and Marcus, I think both well for those guys and for our program. A couple more minutes here with Coach Samson on Sports Talk 790. I don't know if you've been able to judge this yet, because obviously you've got two kids that are going to the draft.

But can NIL keep some kids on college campuses a year or more than maybe say five or six years ago? Absolutely. Look at especially big guys. You know, if you're going to go late in the first run, round. And I'll use the kid from Kansas as an example of the Dunga. He may or may not have gone in the first round. Let's say he went 25 to 30. He's going to make four times as much his first year at Louisville as he would at any of the teams at the bottom of the draft. Those guys aren't, Kingston is going to make a ton of money. I think, I think,

Clinton Grimes, Marcus Sasser, those guys that went in the first round, they all got good money. But, you know, you're making more NIL than you are your first NBA contract. And some of those guys, this may be the most money they make in their lives, so they're maximizing their financial futures. but by standing in college an extra year, especially because if you're left, it's somewhere toward the end of the first round, second round. You're also, it's also going to spend a lot of time into G League.

And that's, a G League's not easy travel, and it's not an easy life. So that's why it's happening. Now, how this thing turns out, is it sustainable? Can we do this for a long time? I don't know.

It makes it tough for coaches to maintain rosters and build programs. But I'm absolutely happy for the players that they're able to do this. It should have been happening a long time ago. Can you imagine what I have five would have gotten with Chris Weber and Juan Howard and Jalen Rose and those guys? I mean, my goodness. And they weren't able to maximize their name and the likeness at all. But now these kids are.

So I think they'll know a little something to the guys. shoulders that they stand on. But I'm happy they're able to do it. We've just got to figure out how we can maintain it. Before I let you run, you are always so wise on big picture items in the sports world for basketball and really college athletics as a general. I know you've had some off this season workouts with your kids. Have you brought up the situation at Texas Tech about the gambling?

And that's reinforced, I'm sure, with your compliance folks, with you as coaches as father figures of these guys. Does that have to once again be brought up to these young men? Because a lot of these guys will now have money in their piggy banks and they didn't have that the yesterday years' players didn't have. So the first day of summer school this year, this month, actually, was June 1st. That was a Monday.

So on Sunday night, prior to our Monday, a workout, weight room, basketball stuff, We always bring in university people on Sunday night. I've done this forever. The first thing we talk about is Title IX. We bring the director of Title IX, and she makes an awesome 40-minute presentation. Most of it's PowerPoint. And she's powerful with the things she talks about.

I mean, she hits the point about here's what happens if you do this. Here's the things to stay away from. Then we bring in a social media expert. And he talks about the power of the symbol. button, making sure that you're making good decisions on what you put out on social media. And then usually we bring us someone from the Houston Police Department. I'm sorry, University of Houston Police Department. And they talk about protocols and things to stay away from.

And so, and then we bring in a gambling expert, and we bring in a financial expert. So, but, but Matt, we've been doing this for 30-some years. We're not reacting. One of the reasons why knock on wood, you don't see our kids' names in police blogs is, number one, we recruit high-character kids who come from really good families. And number two, we don't put up with no nonsense here. So, no, the SORCD deal, I think a lot of schools will react to that, but we've always been proactive with it. Well, that's excellent to hear because I'm very happy that that's not going to be an issue as long as you're leading to our program.

Coach, enjoy the rest of summer. Have safe travels to New York. Have a great time you deserve all the flowers you'll be receiving with those young men. And we will look forward to talking with you soon. And say how to the family for me. Okay, good luck to your daughter. And have a great day. All right, thank you.

Appreciate it, Coach. That's Coach Calvin Sampson with us here on Sports Talk 790. And he will again be up in New York at the draft, which will be tomorrow night. Rockets, by the way, do not have a first round selection. It's too bad because this is a great draft.