UH moves into the new Football Operations Center, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

When the University of Houston and its football program joined the Big 12 in July 2024, they understood that competing in the conference would require not only top-tier talent and recruiting, but also a state-of-the-art facility.

Most Houston programs have shared the Athletics/Alumni Center with football, confining them to the second floor of the building for decades while conference counterparts had a place of their own.

That changed in September 2023, when the Memorial Herman Football Operations Center project launched.

Construction began shortly after Houston finished its first Big 12 season in November 2023 and will be completed this summer, with coaches and staff moving in on Friday, and players moving in on Monday.

When Fritz spoke at Big 12 media days just weeks before, he was quick to mention the importance of the football operations center, believing the 160,000 square foot building gives Houston “as good a facility as anybody in the country.”

But the anticipation goes far beyond Fritz. 

The consensus among players, from those who toured the facility before its completion to those who have only gotten glimpses of it from the outside, was one of pure excitement.

“It’s gonna be lit. I took a few recruits through there, I felt like a recruit myself,” junior safety Kentrell Webb said.

Some reflected on finally having space all to themselves and spoke about the issues that would come from sharing a building with other sports.

“Sometimes it could get crowded, and we can’t do what we need to do sometimes,” sophomore running back J’marion Burnette said. “Moving into the new facility, it’ll be a benefit for all our guys.”

The Memorial Herman Football Operations Center features cutting-edge locker rooms, an academic support services suite, office spaces and sports performance centers, including a second-floor gym for the athletes.

Houston’s top transfer, junior quarterback Conner Weigman from Texas A&M, hasn’t been in the facility since a visit last fall, increasing his eagerness to see the finished product. 

“It was still cardboard, wood all over the place, construction hats,” Weigman said. “I haven’t seen it in a while, so I’m excited to get that first experience at the new facility.”

Beyond personal convenience, players view the new building as a sign of the program’s commitment to its future.

“We’re a Big 12 football team now, so I feel like the new facility and everything should go up with us, coming into a new conference,” junior outside linebacker Latreveon McCutchin said. 

Fritz’s emphasis on recruiting high school talent is beginning to take shape, with numerous marquee commitments already in place, and players believe the Memorial Herman Football Operations Center could play a role in attracting top-flight recruits as well.

“I feel like it’s going to bring a lot of attention to the program moving forward with high school guys, having the new facility and how it looks,” redshirt senior linebacker Brandon Mack said. 

Over the past year and a half, Fritz and his staff have worked diligently to assemble a team that can compete in what could be a wide-open Big 12 conference.

Now, they finally have the facility to compete as well.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“‘It’s gonna be lit.’: Players react to Houston football’s new facility” was originally posted on The Cougar

Lily Huynh | The Cougar

For Houston men’s and women’s basketball, the road to a long, physically demanding season begins in those summer mornings before the sun’s glare is cast over the Houston horizon.

It’s their freshman orientation, where they’re introduced to the expectations and healthy habits necessary to succeed at the college level. 

Though full-time students aren’t asked to take part in double-overtime thrillers or grueling Big 12 schedules, every week brings its own set of challenges academically, which requires them to be at their very best, health and nutrition-wise.

Enter Alan Bishop and Leila Petewon, who serve as the strength and conditioning coaches for the respective programs.

Both Bishop and Petewon have backgrounds as student-athletes, crediting their college strength and conditioning coaches as motivators for their desire to inspire student-athletes to become the best versions of themselves. 

For each player to perform at their absolute best, proper training, rest and nutrition are essential. While the meals consumed by these student-athletes may differ from those of the average student due to the increased energy expended, the ingredients remain consistent for almost everyone. 

Balanced meals fuel players both before and after games, and they can have the same effect on students throughout a college semester.

So what does a healthy, balanced plate actually look like?

According to Petewon, it incorporates a lot of whole foods, carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, fiber and fat. Micronutrients, vitamins and minerals are also important, Bishop said, and if you “let your micronutrients drive your macros, you’re pretty much going to hit your balanced needs.”

Micronutrients are all the vitamins and minerals the body needs in small quantities to function properly, while macronutrients are the ones the body needs in large amounts to grow and recharge.

It’ll ensure one gets what’s needed throughout the day and keeps the diet as close to Mother Nature as possible.

“If you can chase it and kill it, or if you can grow it and pick it, I think it’s usually pretty good to put into your system,” Bishop said.

Avoiding foods that are “far away from what Mother Nature intended,” or at least using them sparingly, is also key. However, that can prove to be a challenge in college, given the access students have to numerous fast food places around campuses. 

What meals can students prepare to energize them for the day?

Bishop and Petewon weighed in.

“A meal that starts with protein, I am an advocate of animal-based protein, if you have an issue with that for moral, ethical, religious reasons, more power to you, but I would highly recommend you start every plate with animal-sourced protein, which will also typically include healthy fats,” Bishop said.

After that, Bishop recommends completing the building process with fruits, vegetables, and healthy sources of carbohydrates, such as potatoes, rice, grains and similar foods. Nuts and seeds are also beneficial as healthy fats.

“I know very few people in this world who got sick by eating just a little too many salmon and blueberries,” Bishop said. 

Petewon co-signed Bishop’s recommendations and noted the importance of healthy fats, nuts, fruits and vegetables. 

“Those are great to have throughout the day in class, in between classes, I think it’s just as important not to kind of deprive yourself throughout the day and eat one big meal at the end, so making sure you’re consistent with your meal times,” Petewon said. 

During times such as midterms or finals, academic performance matters even more, as well as being consistent with meal times and getting the necessary nutrition.

It not only impacts how players handle those high-stress moments in big games, but also students when a grade is on the line. 

“Eat healthy all the time and you’ll probably get the results you’re trying to achieve,” Bishop said.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Eat like a champion: Healthy habits with basketball’s Alan Bishop, Lelia Petewon” was originally posted on The Cougar

Lily Huynh | The Cougar

For Houston men’s and women’s basketball, the road to a long, physically demanding season begins in those summer mornings before the sun’s glare is cast over the Houston horizon.

It’s their freshman orientation, where they’re introduced to the expectations and healthy habits necessary to succeed at the college level. 

Though full-time students aren’t asked to take part in double-overtime thrillers or grueling Big 12 schedules, every week brings its own set of challenges academically, which requires them to be at their very best, health and nutrition-wise.

Enter Alan Bishop and Leila Petewon, who serve as the strength and conditioning coaches for the respective programs.

Both Bishop and Petewon have backgrounds as student-athletes, crediting their college strength and conditioning coaches as motivators for their desire to inspire student-athletes to become the best versions of themselves. 

For each player to perform at their absolute best, proper training, rest and nutrition are essential. While the meals consumed by these student-athletes may differ from those of the average student due to the increased energy expended, the ingredients remain consistent for almost everyone. 

Balanced meals fuel players both before and after games, and they can have the same effect on students throughout a college semester.

So what does a healthy, balanced plate actually look like?

According to Petewon, it incorporates a lot of whole foods, carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, fiber and fat. Micronutrients, vitamins and minerals are also important, Bishop said, and if you “let your micronutrients drive your macros, you’re pretty much going to hit your balanced needs.”

Micronutrients are all the vitamins and minerals the body needs in small quantities to function properly, while macronutrients are the ones the body needs in large amounts to grow and recharge.

It’ll ensure one gets what’s needed throughout the day and keeps the diet as close to Mother Nature as possible.

“If you can chase it and kill it, or if you can grow it and pick it, I think it’s usually pretty good to put into your system,” Bishop said.

Avoiding foods that are “far away from what Mother Nature intended,” or at least using them sparingly, is also key. However, that can prove to be a challenge in college, given the access students have to numerous fast food places around campuses. 

What meals can students prepare to energize them for the day?

Bishop and Petewon weighed in.

“A meal that starts with protein, I am an advocate of animal-based protein, if you have an issue with that for moral, ethical, religious reasons, more power to you, but I would highly recommend you start every plate with animal-sourced protein, which will also typically include healthy fats,” Bishop said.

After that, Bishop recommends completing the building process with fruits, vegetables, and healthy sources of carbohydrates, such as potatoes, rice, grains and similar foods. Nuts and seeds are also beneficial as healthy fats.

“I know very few people in this world who got sick by eating just a little too many salmon and blueberries,” Bishop said. 

Petewon co-signed Bishop’s recommendations and noted the importance of healthy fats, nuts, fruits and vegetables. 

“Those are great to have throughout the day in class, in between classes, I think it’s just as important not to kind of deprive yourself throughout the day and eat one big meal at the end, so making sure you’re consistent with your meal times,” Petewon said. 

During times such as midterms or finals, academic performance matters even more, as well as being consistent with meal times and getting the necessary nutrition.

It not only impacts how players handle those high-stress moments in big games, but also students when a grade is on the line. 

“Eat healthy all the time and you’ll probably get the results you’re trying to achieve,” Bishop said.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Eat like a champion: Healthy habits with basketball’s Alan Bishop, Lelia Petewon” was originally posted on The Cougar

Lily Huynh | The Cougar

For Houston men’s and women’s basketball, the road to a long, physically demanding season begins in those summer mornings before the sun’s glare is cast over the Houston horizon.

It’s their freshman orientation, where they’re introduced to the expectations and healthy habits necessary to succeed at the college level. 

Though full-time students aren’t asked to take part in double-overtime thrillers or grueling Big 12 schedules, every week brings its own set of challenges academically, which requires them to be at their very best, health and nutrition-wise.

Enter Alan Bishop and Leila Petewon, who serve as the strength and conditioning coaches for the respective programs.

Both Bishop and Petewon have backgrounds as student-athletes, crediting their college strength and conditioning coaches as motivators for their desire to inspire student-athletes to become the best versions of themselves. 

For each player to perform at their absolute best, proper training, rest and nutrition are essential. While the meals consumed by these student-athletes may differ from those of the average student due to the increased energy expended, the ingredients remain consistent for almost everyone. 

Balanced meals fuel players both before and after games, and they can have the same effect on students throughout a college semester.

So what does a healthy, balanced plate actually look like?

According to Petewon, it incorporates a lot of whole foods, carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, fiber and fat. Micronutrients, vitamins and minerals are also important, Bishop said, and if you “let your micronutrients drive your macros, you’re pretty much going to hit your balanced needs.”

Micronutrients are all the vitamins and minerals the body needs in small quantities to function properly, while macronutrients are the ones the body needs in large amounts to grow and recharge.

It’ll ensure one gets what’s needed throughout the day and keeps the diet as close to Mother Nature as possible.

“If you can chase it and kill it, or if you can grow it and pick it, I think it’s usually pretty good to put into your system,” Bishop said.

Avoiding foods that are “far away from what Mother Nature intended,” or at least using them sparingly, is also key. However, that can prove to be a challenge in college, given the access students have to numerous fast food places around campuses. 

What meals can students prepare to energize them for the day?

Bishop and Petewon weighed in.

“A meal that starts with protein, I am an advocate of animal-based protein, if you have an issue with that for moral, ethical, religious reasons, more power to you, but I would highly recommend you start every plate with animal-sourced protein, which will also typically include healthy fats,” Bishop said.

After that, Bishop recommends completing the building process with fruits, vegetables, and healthy sources of carbohydrates, such as potatoes, rice, grains and similar foods. Nuts and seeds are also beneficial as healthy fats.

“I know very few people in this world who got sick by eating just a little too many salmon and blueberries,” Bishop said. 

Petewon co-signed Bishop’s recommendations and noted the importance of healthy fats, nuts, fruits and vegetables. 

“Those are great to have throughout the day in class, in between classes, I think it’s just as important not to kind of deprive yourself throughout the day and eat one big meal at the end, so making sure you’re consistent with your meal times,” Petewon said. 

During times such as midterms or finals, academic performance matters even more, as well as being consistent with meal times and getting the necessary nutrition.

It not only impacts how players handle those high-stress moments in big games, but also students when a grade is on the line. 

“Eat healthy all the time and you’ll probably get the results you’re trying to achieve,” Bishop said.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Eat like a champion: Healthy habits with basketball’s Alan Bishop, Lelia Petewon” was originally posted on The Cougar

Lily Huynh | The Cougar

For Houston men’s and women’s basketball, the road to a long, physically demanding season begins in those summer mornings before the sun’s glare is cast over the Houston horizon.

It’s their freshman orientation, where they’re introduced to the expectations and healthy habits necessary to succeed at the college level. 

Though full-time students aren’t asked to take part in double-overtime thrillers or grueling Big 12 schedules, every week brings its own set of challenges academically, which requires them to be at their very best, health and nutrition-wise.

Enter Alan Bishop and Leila Petewon, who serve as the strength and conditioning coaches for the respective programs.

Both Bishop and Petewon have backgrounds as student-athletes, crediting their college strength and conditioning coaches as motivators for their desire to inspire student-athletes to become the best versions of themselves. 

For each player to perform at their absolute best, proper training, rest and nutrition are essential. While the meals consumed by these student-athletes may differ from those of the average student due to the increased energy expended, the ingredients remain consistent for almost everyone. 

Balanced meals fuel players both before and after games, and they can have the same effect on students throughout a college semester.

So what does a healthy, balanced plate actually look like?

According to Petewon, it incorporates a lot of whole foods, carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, fiber and fat. Micronutrients, vitamins and minerals are also important, Bishop said, and if you “let your micronutrients drive your macros, you’re pretty much going to hit your balanced needs.”

Micronutrients are all the vitamins and minerals the body needs in small quantities to function properly, while macronutrients are the ones the body needs in large amounts to grow and recharge.

It’ll ensure one gets what’s needed throughout the day and keeps the diet as close to Mother Nature as possible.

“If you can chase it and kill it, or if you can grow it and pick it, I think it’s usually pretty good to put into your system,” Bishop said.

Avoiding foods that are “far away from what Mother Nature intended,” or at least using them sparingly, is also key. However, that can prove to be a challenge in college, given the access students have to numerous fast food places around campuses. 

What meals can students prepare to energize them for the day?

Bishop and Petewon weighed in.

“A meal that starts with protein, I am an advocate of animal-based protein, if you have an issue with that for moral, ethical, religious reasons, more power to you, but I would highly recommend you start every plate with animal-sourced protein, which will also typically include healthy fats,” Bishop said.

After that, Bishop recommends completing the building process with fruits, vegetables, and healthy sources of carbohydrates, such as potatoes, rice, grains and similar foods. Nuts and seeds are also beneficial as healthy fats.

“I know very few people in this world who got sick by eating just a little too many salmon and blueberries,” Bishop said. 

Petewon co-signed Bishop’s recommendations and noted the importance of healthy fats, nuts, fruits and vegetables. 

“Those are great to have throughout the day in class, in between classes, I think it’s just as important not to kind of deprive yourself throughout the day and eat one big meal at the end, so making sure you’re consistent with your meal times,” Petewon said. 

During times such as midterms or finals, academic performance matters even more, as well as being consistent with meal times and getting the necessary nutrition.

It not only impacts how players handle those high-stress moments in big games, but also students when a grade is on the line. 

“Eat healthy all the time and you’ll probably get the results you’re trying to achieve,” Bishop said.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Eat like a champion: Healthy habits with basketball’s Alan Bishop, Lelia Petewon” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard Mylik Wilson (8) dribbles the ball while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi guard Damarion Dennis (5) flanks his approach during the second half of an NCAA college Men’s Basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston men’s basketball was well-represented at the NBA’s various Summer Leagues, with six former Cougars participating in the competitions. 

Four of those alumni, guards L.J. Cryer, Mylik Wilson, and forwards J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis, were members of Houston’s 2024-25 national title runner-up team.

Guards Jamal Shead and Nate Hinton also played, participating in their second and fifth Summer Leagues, respectively. 

Jamal Shead

Shead was drafted 45th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2024 and was immediately traded to the Toronto Raptors as part of a multi-player deal.

Coming off his first NBA season, Shead averaged 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game.

Despite only starting 11 times in his rookie campaign, he started all five of his Las Vegas Summer League contests, in which the Raptors went 4-1, ultimately losing to the Sacramento Kings in the semifinals.

In his first four games, he scored in double-figures twice, averaging 10.8 points and 5.3 assists as the Raptors’ floor general. 

Shead’s strongest performance was in his final game, where he scored a team-high 24 points and dished out 12 assists, while shooting 9-of-16 from the floor. 

The 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year also continued to disrupt opposing teams, averaging 1.6 steals per game. 

Though he shot just 23.8 percent from behind the 3-point line, Shead’s athleticism and ability to finish inside the rim, combined with his facilitating, should make him a key fixture for the Raptors heading into his second year.

L.J. Cryer

Cryer, one of the top shooters remaining among undrafted free agents, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Golden State Warriors following the 2025 NBA draft.

It didn’t take long for Cryer to display the shotmaking ability that made him Houston’s leading scorer from 2023-25, and the possible fit with an organization predicated on perimeter shooting. 

In his two California Classic appearances, he averaged 13.5 points and made seven of 10 3-pointers. 

Cryer led all Warriors scorers in their second game, fueled by a personal 8-0 run in the second quarter, during which he drained a three-pointer from the top of the key and another from the right wing. 

The first-team All-Big 12 member only participated in two of Golden State’s five Las Vegas games, averaging just five points per game, and his efficiency was drastically worse than it was in Salt Lake City. 

Cryer’s Exhibit 10 contract runs through training camp, where he will compete for a two-way contract or a roster spot.

Mylik Wilson

Wilson was the last of the four 2024-25 Houston Cougars to land a Summer League roster spot this July.

The Rayville, La. native broke Summer League mini-camp with the Houston Rockets, and after a quiet first two games in Las Vegas, began to look like the tenacious Wilson who Houston had become familiar with.

In his final three games, Wilson averaged a staggering 3.6 steals per game, including two steal-and-slams against the Portland Trailblazers and Detroit Pistons.

Wilson, who has gained a flair for pivotal 3-point shots, buried one at the buzzer while fading away to end the first half against the Atlanta Hawks.

Yet, his most signature moment may have been a block against the Blazers’ 7-foot-1 center Yang Hansen, who eurostepped to the basket before a leaping Wilson emphatically rejected him. 

He stuffed the box score in his five games, averaging 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 steals and assists while swatting 0.8 shots per game.

Nate Hinton 

After going undrafted in 2020, Hinton quickly found a home with the Dallas Mavericks, signing a two-way contract and appearing in 21 games as a reserve during the 2020-21 season.

Now on his fourth Summer League team in five years, Hinton played in both the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas Summer leagues for the Memphis Grizzlies, coming off the bench in all but one of his seven games. 

Playing the small forward position for the Grizzlies, Hinton averaged 5.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game.

The former Cougar struggled to find a rhythm offensively in his first five performances, shooting 5-for-26 from the floor and 3-for-14 from behind the 3-point line. 

However, he closed out his Summer League with a 15-point, 6 rebound performance while shooting 5-of-6 from the field in a 105-92 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ja’Vier Francis, J’Wan Roberts

Francis found himself on the Golden State Warriors’ California Classic and Summer League rosters alongside Cryer.

Despite only playing in two games, Francis capitalized on his minutes, scoring 10 points, seven rebounds and recording two blocks against the Warriors, and 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Shortly after Roberts went undrafted in June, he landed a deal with the Utah Jazz by way of a Summer League invite. 

However, Roberts found himself on a young Jazz team with a prioritization on developing its young core, limiting him to 9:53 minutes across two Summer League games. 

Roberts, Francis, Wilson and Hinton are all currently free agents and can sign with any team for training camp this fall.

Following the Summer League’s culmination, Roberts and Wilson joined Houston’s No. 1-seeded ‘Forever Coogs’ The Basketball Tournament team, where they eventually lost to the No. 2 Aftershocks on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot in the round of 16.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Six former Cougars wrap up NBA Summer League competition” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard Mylik Wilson (8) dribbles the ball while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi guard Damarion Dennis (5) flanks his approach during the second half of an NCAA college Men’s Basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston men’s basketball was well-represented at the NBA’s various Summer Leagues, with six former Cougars participating in the competitions. 

Four of those alumni, guards L.J. Cryer, Mylik Wilson, and forwards J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis, were members of Houston’s 2024-25 national title runner-up team.

Guards Jamal Shead and Nate Hinton also played, participating in their second and fifth Summer Leagues, respectively. 

Jamal Shead

Shead was drafted 45th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2024 and was immediately traded to the Toronto Raptors as part of a multi-player deal.

Coming off his first NBA season, Shead averaged 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game.

Despite only starting 11 times in his rookie campaign, he started all five of his Las Vegas Summer League contests, in which the Raptors went 4-1, ultimately losing to the Sacramento Kings in the semifinals.

In his first four games, he scored in double-figures twice, averaging 10.8 points and 5.3 assists as the Raptors’ floor general. 

Shead’s strongest performance was in his final game, where he scored a team-high 24 points and dished out 12 assists, while shooting 9-of-16 from the floor. 

The 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year also continued to disrupt opposing teams, averaging 1.6 steals per game. 

Though he shot just 23.8 percent from behind the 3-point line, Shead’s athleticism and ability to finish inside the rim, combined with his facilitating, should make him a key fixture for the Raptors heading into his second year.

L.J. Cryer

Cryer, one of the top shooters remaining among undrafted free agents, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Golden State Warriors following the 2025 NBA draft.

It didn’t take long for Cryer to display the shotmaking ability that made him Houston’s leading scorer from 2023-25, and the possible fit with an organization predicated on perimeter shooting. 

In his two California Classic appearances, he averaged 13.5 points and made seven of 10 3-pointers. 

Cryer led all Warriors scorers in their second game, fueled by a personal 8-0 run in the second quarter, during which he drained a three-pointer from the top of the key and another from the right wing. 

The first-team All-Big 12 member only participated in two of Golden State’s five Las Vegas games, averaging just five points per game, and his efficiency was drastically worse than it was in Salt Lake City. 

Cryer’s Exhibit 10 contract runs through training camp, where he will compete for a two-way contract or a roster spot.

Mylik Wilson

Wilson was the last of the four 2024-25 Houston Cougars to land a Summer League roster spot this July.

The Rayville, La. native broke Summer League mini-camp with the Houston Rockets, and after a quiet first two games in Las Vegas, began to look like the tenacious Wilson who Houston had become familiar with.

In his final three games, Wilson averaged a staggering 3.6 steals per game, including two steal-and-slams against the Portland Trailblazers and Detroit Pistons.

Wilson, who has gained a flair for pivotal 3-point shots, buried one at the buzzer while fading away to end the first half against the Atlanta Hawks.

Yet, his most signature moment may have been a block against the Blazers’ 7-foot-1 center Yang Hansen, who eurostepped to the basket before a leaping Wilson emphatically rejected him. 

He stuffed the box score in his five games, averaging 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 steals and assists while swatting 0.8 shots per game.

Nate Hinton 

After going undrafted in 2020, Hinton quickly found a home with the Dallas Mavericks, signing a two-way contract and appearing in 21 games as a reserve during the 2020-21 season.

Now on his fourth Summer League team in five years, Hinton played in both the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas Summer leagues for the Memphis Grizzlies, coming off the bench in all but one of his seven games. 

Playing the small forward position for the Grizzlies, Hinton averaged 5.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game.

The former Cougar struggled to find a rhythm offensively in his first five performances, shooting 5-for-26 from the floor and 3-for-14 from behind the 3-point line. 

However, he closed out his Summer League with a 15-point, 6 rebound performance while shooting 5-of-6 from the field in a 105-92 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ja’Vier Francis, J’Wan Roberts

Francis found himself on the Golden State Warriors’ California Classic and Summer League rosters alongside Cryer.

Despite only playing in two games, Francis capitalized on his minutes, scoring 10 points, seven rebounds and recording two blocks against the Warriors, and 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Shortly after Roberts went undrafted in June, he landed a deal with the Utah Jazz by way of a Summer League invite. 

However, Roberts found himself on a young Jazz team with a prioritization on developing its young core, limiting him to 9:53 minutes across two Summer League games. 

Roberts, Francis, Wilson and Hinton are all currently free agents and can sign with any team for training camp this fall.

Following the Summer League’s culmination, Roberts and Wilson joined Houston’s No. 1-seeded ‘Forever Coogs’ The Basketball Tournament team, where they eventually lost to the No. 2 Aftershocks on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot in the round of 16.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Six former Cougars wrap up NBA Summer League competition” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard Mylik Wilson (8) dribbles the ball while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi guard Damarion Dennis (5) flanks his approach during the second half of an NCAA college Men’s Basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston men’s basketball was well-represented at the NBA’s various Summer Leagues, with six former Cougars participating in the competitions. 

Four of those alumni, guards L.J. Cryer, Mylik Wilson, and forwards J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis, were members of Houston’s 2024-25 national title runner-up team.

Guards Jamal Shead and Nate Hinton also played, participating in their second and fifth Summer Leagues, respectively. 

Jamal Shead

Shead was drafted 45th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2024 and was immediately traded to the Toronto Raptors as part of a multi-player deal.

Coming off his first NBA season, Shead averaged 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game.

Despite only starting 11 times in his rookie campaign, he started all five of his Las Vegas Summer League contests, in which the Raptors went 4-1, ultimately losing to the Sacramento Kings in the semifinals.

In his first four games, he scored in double-figures twice, averaging 10.8 points and 5.3 assists as the Raptors’ floor general. 

Shead’s strongest performance was in his final game, where he scored a team-high 24 points and dished out 12 assists, while shooting 9-of-16 from the floor. 

The 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year also continued to disrupt opposing teams, averaging 1.6 steals per game. 

Though he shot just 23.8 percent from behind the 3-point line, Shead’s athleticism and ability to finish inside the rim, combined with his facilitating, should make him a key fixture for the Raptors heading into his second year.

L.J. Cryer

Cryer, one of the top shooters remaining among undrafted free agents, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Golden State Warriors following the 2025 NBA draft.

It didn’t take long for Cryer to display the shotmaking ability that made him Houston’s leading scorer from 2023-25, and the possible fit with an organization predicated on perimeter shooting. 

In his two California Classic appearances, he averaged 13.5 points and made seven of 10 3-pointers. 

Cryer led all Warriors scorers in their second game, fueled by a personal 8-0 run in the second quarter, during which he drained a three-pointer from the top of the key and another from the right wing. 

The first-team All-Big 12 member only participated in two of Golden State’s five Las Vegas games, averaging just five points per game, and his efficiency was drastically worse than it was in Salt Lake City. 

Cryer’s Exhibit 10 contract runs through training camp, where he will compete for a two-way contract or a roster spot.

Mylik Wilson

Wilson was the last of the four 2024-25 Houston Cougars to land a Summer League roster spot this July.

The Rayville, La. native broke Summer League mini-camp with the Houston Rockets, and after a quiet first two games in Las Vegas, began to look like the tenacious Wilson who Houston had become familiar with.

In his final three games, Wilson averaged a staggering 3.6 steals per game, including two steal-and-slams against the Portland Trailblazers and Detroit Pistons.

Wilson, who has gained a flair for pivotal 3-point shots, buried one at the buzzer while fading away to end the first half against the Atlanta Hawks.

Yet, his most signature moment may have been a block against the Blazers’ 7-foot-1 center Yang Hansen, who eurostepped to the basket before a leaping Wilson emphatically rejected him. 

He stuffed the box score in his five games, averaging 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 steals and assists while swatting 0.8 shots per game.

Nate Hinton 

After going undrafted in 2020, Hinton quickly found a home with the Dallas Mavericks, signing a two-way contract and appearing in 21 games as a reserve during the 2020-21 season.

Now on his fourth Summer League team in five years, Hinton played in both the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas Summer leagues for the Memphis Grizzlies, coming off the bench in all but one of his seven games. 

Playing the small forward position for the Grizzlies, Hinton averaged 5.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game.

The former Cougar struggled to find a rhythm offensively in his first five performances, shooting 5-for-26 from the floor and 3-for-14 from behind the 3-point line. 

However, he closed out his Summer League with a 15-point, 6 rebound performance while shooting 5-of-6 from the field in a 105-92 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ja’Vier Francis, J’Wan Roberts

Francis found himself on the Golden State Warriors’ California Classic and Summer League rosters alongside Cryer.

Despite only playing in two games, Francis capitalized on his minutes, scoring 10 points, seven rebounds and recording two blocks against the Warriors, and 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Shortly after Roberts went undrafted in June, he landed a deal with the Utah Jazz by way of a Summer League invite. 

However, Roberts found himself on a young Jazz team with a prioritization on developing its young core, limiting him to 9:53 minutes across two Summer League games. 

Roberts, Francis, Wilson and Hinton are all currently free agents and can sign with any team for training camp this fall.

Following the Summer League’s culmination, Roberts and Wilson joined Houston’s No. 1-seeded ‘Forever Coogs’ The Basketball Tournament team, where they eventually lost to the No. 2 Aftershocks on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot in the round of 16.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Six former Cougars wrap up NBA Summer League competition” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard Mylik Wilson (8) dribbles the ball while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi guard Damarion Dennis (5) flanks his approach during the second half of an NCAA college Men’s Basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston men’s basketball was well-represented at the NBA’s various Summer Leagues, with six former Cougars participating in the competitions. 

Four of those alumni, guards L.J. Cryer, Mylik Wilson, and forwards J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis, were members of Houston’s 2024-25 national title runner-up team.

Guards Jamal Shead and Nate Hinton also played, participating in their second and fifth Summer Leagues, respectively. 

Jamal Shead

Shead was drafted 45th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2024 and was immediately traded to the Toronto Raptors as part of a multi-player deal.

Coming off his first NBA season, Shead averaged 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game.

Despite only starting 11 times in his rookie campaign, he started all five of his Las Vegas Summer League contests, in which the Raptors went 4-1, ultimately losing to the Sacramento Kings in the semifinals.

In his first four games, he scored in double-figures twice, averaging 10.8 points and 5.3 assists as the Raptors’ floor general. 

Shead’s strongest performance was in his final game, where he scored a team-high 24 points and dished out 12 assists, while shooting 9-of-16 from the floor. 

The 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year also continued to disrupt opposing teams, averaging 1.6 steals per game. 

Though he shot just 23.8 percent from behind the 3-point line, Shead’s athleticism and ability to finish inside the rim, combined with his facilitating, should make him a key fixture for the Raptors heading into his second year.

L.J. Cryer

Cryer, one of the top shooters remaining among undrafted free agents, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Golden State Warriors following the 2025 NBA draft.

It didn’t take long for Cryer to display the shotmaking ability that made him Houston’s leading scorer from 2023-25, and the possible fit with an organization predicated on perimeter shooting. 

In his two California Classic appearances, he averaged 13.5 points and made seven of 10 3-pointers. 

Cryer led all Warriors scorers in their second game, fueled by a personal 8-0 run in the second quarter, during which he drained a three-pointer from the top of the key and another from the right wing. 

The first-team All-Big 12 member only participated in two of Golden State’s five Las Vegas games, averaging just five points per game, and his efficiency was drastically worse than it was in Salt Lake City. 

Cryer’s Exhibit 10 contract runs through training camp, where he will compete for a two-way contract or a roster spot.

Mylik Wilson

Wilson was the last of the four 2024-25 Houston Cougars to land a Summer League roster spot this July.

The Rayville, La. native broke Summer League mini-camp with the Houston Rockets, and after a quiet first two games in Las Vegas, began to look like the tenacious Wilson who Houston had become familiar with.

In his final three games, Wilson averaged a staggering 3.6 steals per game, including two steal-and-slams against the Portland Trailblazers and Detroit Pistons.

Wilson, who has gained a flair for pivotal 3-point shots, buried one at the buzzer while fading away to end the first half against the Atlanta Hawks.

Yet, his most signature moment may have been a block against the Blazers’ 7-foot-1 center Yang Hansen, who eurostepped to the basket before a leaping Wilson emphatically rejected him. 

He stuffed the box score in his five games, averaging 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 steals and assists while swatting 0.8 shots per game.

Nate Hinton 

After going undrafted in 2020, Hinton quickly found a home with the Dallas Mavericks, signing a two-way contract and appearing in 21 games as a reserve during the 2020-21 season.

Now on his fourth Summer League team in five years, Hinton played in both the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas Summer leagues for the Memphis Grizzlies, coming off the bench in all but one of his seven games. 

Playing the small forward position for the Grizzlies, Hinton averaged 5.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game.

The former Cougar struggled to find a rhythm offensively in his first five performances, shooting 5-for-26 from the floor and 3-for-14 from behind the 3-point line. 

However, he closed out his Summer League with a 15-point, 6 rebound performance while shooting 5-of-6 from the field in a 105-92 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ja’Vier Francis, J’Wan Roberts

Francis found himself on the Golden State Warriors’ California Classic and Summer League rosters alongside Cryer.

Despite only playing in two games, Francis capitalized on his minutes, scoring 10 points, seven rebounds and recording two blocks against the Warriors, and 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Shortly after Roberts went undrafted in June, he landed a deal with the Utah Jazz by way of a Summer League invite. 

However, Roberts found himself on a young Jazz team with a prioritization on developing its young core, limiting him to 9:53 minutes across two Summer League games. 

Roberts, Francis, Wilson and Hinton are all currently free agents and can sign with any team for training camp this fall.

Following the Summer League’s culmination, Roberts and Wilson joined Houston’s No. 1-seeded ‘Forever Coogs’ The Basketball Tournament team, where they eventually lost to the No. 2 Aftershocks on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot in the round of 16.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Six former Cougars wrap up NBA Summer League competition” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard Mylik Wilson (8) dribbles the ball while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi guard Damarion Dennis (5) flanks his approach during the second half of an NCAA college Men’s Basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston men’s basketball was well-represented at the NBA’s various Summer Leagues, with six former Cougars participating in the competitions. 

Four of those alumni, guards L.J. Cryer, Mylik Wilson, and forwards J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis, were members of Houston’s 2024-25 national title runner-up team.

Guards Jamal Shead and Nate Hinton also played, participating in their second and fifth Summer Leagues, respectively. 

Jamal Shead

Shead was drafted 45th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2024 and was immediately traded to the Toronto Raptors as part of a multi-player deal.

Coming off his first NBA season, Shead averaged 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game.

Despite only starting 11 times in his rookie campaign, he started all five of his Las Vegas Summer League contests, in which the Raptors went 4-1, ultimately losing to the Sacramento Kings in the semifinals.

In his first four games, he scored in double-figures twice, averaging 10.8 points and 5.3 assists as the Raptors’ floor general. 

Shead’s strongest performance was in his final game, where he scored a team-high 24 points and dished out 12 assists, while shooting 9-of-16 from the floor. 

The 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year also continued to disrupt opposing teams, averaging 1.6 steals per game. 

Though he shot just 23.8 percent from behind the 3-point line, Shead’s athleticism and ability to finish inside the rim, combined with his facilitating, should make him a key fixture for the Raptors heading into his second year.

L.J. Cryer

Cryer, one of the top shooters remaining among undrafted free agents, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Golden State Warriors following the 2025 NBA draft.

It didn’t take long for Cryer to display the shotmaking ability that made him Houston’s leading scorer from 2023-25, and the possible fit with an organization predicated on perimeter shooting. 

In his two California Classic appearances, he averaged 13.5 points and made seven of 10 3-pointers. 

Cryer led all Warriors scorers in their second game, fueled by a personal 8-0 run in the second quarter, during which he drained a three-pointer from the top of the key and another from the right wing. 

The first-team All-Big 12 member only participated in two of Golden State’s five Las Vegas games, averaging just five points per game, and his efficiency was drastically worse than it was in Salt Lake City. 

Cryer’s Exhibit 10 contract runs through training camp, where he will compete for a two-way contract or a roster spot.

Mylik Wilson

Wilson was the last of the four 2024-25 Houston Cougars to land a Summer League roster spot this July.

The Rayville, La. native broke Summer League mini-camp with the Houston Rockets, and after a quiet first two games in Las Vegas, began to look like the tenacious Wilson who Houston had become familiar with.

In his final three games, Wilson averaged a staggering 3.6 steals per game, including two steal-and-slams against the Portland Trailblazers and Detroit Pistons.

Wilson, who has gained a flair for pivotal 3-point shots, buried one at the buzzer while fading away to end the first half against the Atlanta Hawks.

Yet, his most signature moment may have been a block against the Blazers’ 7-foot-1 center Yang Hansen, who eurostepped to the basket before a leaping Wilson emphatically rejected him. 

He stuffed the box score in his five games, averaging 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 steals and assists while swatting 0.8 shots per game.

Nate Hinton 

After going undrafted in 2020, Hinton quickly found a home with the Dallas Mavericks, signing a two-way contract and appearing in 21 games as a reserve during the 2020-21 season.

Now on his fourth Summer League team in five years, Hinton played in both the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas Summer leagues for the Memphis Grizzlies, coming off the bench in all but one of his seven games. 

Playing the small forward position for the Grizzlies, Hinton averaged 5.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game.

The former Cougar struggled to find a rhythm offensively in his first five performances, shooting 5-for-26 from the floor and 3-for-14 from behind the 3-point line. 

However, he closed out his Summer League with a 15-point, 6 rebound performance while shooting 5-of-6 from the field in a 105-92 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ja’Vier Francis, J’Wan Roberts

Francis found himself on the Golden State Warriors’ California Classic and Summer League rosters alongside Cryer.

Despite only playing in two games, Francis capitalized on his minutes, scoring 10 points, seven rebounds and recording two blocks against the Warriors, and 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Shortly after Roberts went undrafted in June, he landed a deal with the Utah Jazz by way of a Summer League invite. 

However, Roberts found himself on a young Jazz team with a prioritization on developing its young core, limiting him to 9:53 minutes across two Summer League games. 

Roberts, Francis, Wilson and Hinton are all currently free agents and can sign with any team for training camp this fall.

Following the Summer League’s culmination, Roberts and Wilson joined Houston’s No. 1-seeded ‘Forever Coogs’ The Basketball Tournament team, where they eventually lost to the No. 2 Aftershocks on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot in the round of 16.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Six former Cougars wrap up NBA Summer League competition” was originally posted on The Cougar