Houston football head coach Willie Fritz speaks to the team after practice on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Houston, Texas | Joshua Braggs/The Cougar

When Houston football’s head coach Willie Fritz spoke to reporters Wednesday morning as part of Big 12 media days, he arrived as a second-year man, more familiar and comfortable with the program he took over in December of 2023.

Despite going 4-8 in his first Big 12 season, the 12 games showed his vision for the program, but the year also reminded him of how challenging succeeding can be in the conference.

“The Big 12 is a fantastic conference, and everybody is pretty good,” Fritz said.

Fritz is well-travelled in his now 32 years of head coaching experience, having been a part of five conferences before joining Houston, but his sixth allows for even fewer days off, and punishes off-days like no league before it.

“There were some games where maybe you brought your C-game, and you still were able to win. That’s not the case in our league,” Fritz said. “Everybody’s good, top-to-bottom.”

Houston’s next step toward competing for a conference title started with this offseason’s internal competition among key position groups, a luxury the program lacked last year.

“One guy was kind of going to start for us no matter what. Now we’re going to have to use our first two or three games to figure out exactly who is going to be playing and how much they’re going to be playing.”

Despite his familiarity with the city of Houston dating back decades, Fritz spent his first offseason getting acclimated to the school while working with what he already had on his roster, leaving little time for recruiting.

One year later, Fritz is confident with the talent and depth he has assembled, headlined by former Texas A&M quarterback and five-star recruit Conner Weigman.

“He’s been everything I hoped he’d be. He’s a great young man, great leadership abilities,” Fritz said. “We’re just very fortunate to have him in our football program. Just a real, old-fashioned type of quarterback.”

Weigman, now back fully healthy after injury setbacks in seasons past, will have a retooled offensive line to protect him, another group Fritz looked to bolster ahead of the 2025 campaign.

After the spring football game in April, Fritz caught a glimpse of his new offensive line’s potential, calling the unit a “night and day” difference from last year.

A revamped offensive line should allow for better pass protection, but one of the benefits Weigman presents is the dual-threat archetype that’s prevalent in Houston’s quarterback room, and aligns with Fritz and new offensive coordinator Slade Nagle’s visions.

“We like to be a 50-50 team. If you want to win championships, you’ve got to be able to run the football effectively, and Slade certainly understands that,” Fritz said.

Nagle served as his tight end’s coach at Tulane from 2016-21, before becoming assistant head coach in 2022 until Fritz’s departure in 2023.

He then spent 2024 as LSU’s special teams and tight ends coach, which has allowed him to introduce new concepts during the spring that differ from what Fritz had seen at Tulane, while still maintaining a balance between passing and running.

That balance wasn’t present last season, when Houston averaged 152.7 passing yards per game, nearly fifty yards less than second-worst Utah’s 199.4 among the Big 12 and 11th worst nationally.

The starting quarterback seesaw where starts and snaps were traded between Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss only accentuated the imbalance even more.

But it’s a balance Fritz and his staff know they need to restore heading into year two, where Weigman, Chriss and freshman quarterback Austin Carlisle will get reps throughout a preseason in which Houston will hone its new offensive identity.

“Our slogan this year is Houston. When we break (huddle) it’s 2025 Houston,” Fritz said. “Not 2026, 2027, every team now is going to be its own team.”

The first preseason practice is July 28, with the Cougars kicking off their season in a home matchup against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Aug. 28 at TDECU Stadium.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“How Willie Fritz is looking to elevate Houston in year two” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston football head coach Willie Fritz speaks to the team after practice on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Houston, Texas | Joshua Braggs/The Cougar

When Houston football’s head coach Willie Fritz spoke to reporters Wednesday morning as part of Big 12 media days, he arrived as a second-year man, more familiar and comfortable with the program he took over in December of 2023.

Despite going 4-8 in his first Big 12 season, the 12 games showed his vision for the program, but the year also reminded him of how challenging succeeding can be in the conference.

“The Big 12 is a fantastic conference, and everybody is pretty good,” Fritz said.

Fritz is well-travelled in his now 32 years of head coaching experience, having been a part of five conferences before joining Houston, but his sixth allows for even fewer days off, and punishes off-days like no league before it.

“There were some games where maybe you brought your C-game, and you still were able to win. That’s not the case in our league,” Fritz said. “Everybody’s good, top-to-bottom.”

Houston’s next step toward competing for a conference title started with this offseason’s internal competition among key position groups, a luxury the program lacked last year.

“One guy was kind of going to start for us no matter what. Now we’re going to have to use our first two or three games to figure out exactly who is going to be playing and how much they’re going to be playing.”

Despite his familiarity with the city of Houston dating back decades, Fritz spent his first offseason getting acclimated to the school while working with what he already had on his roster, leaving little time for recruiting.

One year later, Fritz is confident with the talent and depth he has assembled, headlined by former Texas A&M quarterback and five-star recruit Conner Weigman.

“He’s been everything I hoped he’d be. He’s a great young man, great leadership abilities,” Fritz said. “We’re just very fortunate to have him in our football program. Just a real, old-fashioned type of quarterback.”

Weigman, now back fully healthy after injury setbacks in seasons past, will have a retooled offensive line to protect him, another group Fritz looked to bolster ahead of the 2025 campaign.

After the spring football game in April, Fritz caught a glimpse of his new offensive line’s potential, calling the unit a “night and day” difference from last year.

A revamped offensive line should allow for better pass protection, but one of the benefits Weigman presents is the dual-threat archetype that’s prevalent in Houston’s quarterback room, and aligns with Fritz and new offensive coordinator Slade Nagle’s visions.

“We like to be a 50-50 team. If you want to win championships, you’ve got to be able to run the football effectively, and Slade certainly understands that,” Fritz said.

Nagle served as his tight end’s coach at Tulane from 2016-21, before becoming assistant head coach in 2022 until Fritz’s departure in 2023.

He then spent 2024 as LSU’s special teams and tight ends coach, which has allowed him to introduce new concepts during the spring that differ from what Fritz had seen at Tulane, while still maintaining a balance between passing and running.

That balance wasn’t present last season, when Houston averaged 152.7 passing yards per game, nearly fifty yards less than second-worst Utah’s 199.4 among the Big 12 and 11th worst nationally.

The starting quarterback seesaw where starts and snaps were traded between Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss only accentuated the imbalance even more.

But it’s a balance Fritz and his staff know they need to restore heading into year two, where Weigman, Chriss and freshman quarterback Austin Carlisle will get reps throughout a preseason in which Houston will hone its new offensive identity.

“Our slogan this year is Houston. When we break (huddle) it’s 2025 Houston,” Fritz said. “Not 2026, 2027, every team now is going to be its own team.”

The first preseason practice is July 28, with the Cougars kicking off their season in a home matchup against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Aug. 28 at TDECU Stadium.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“How Willie Fritz is looking to elevate Houston in year two” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston football head coach Willie Fritz speaks to the team after practice on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Houston, Texas | Joshua Braggs/The Cougar

When Houston football’s head coach Willie Fritz spoke to reporters Wednesday morning as part of Big 12 media days, he arrived as a second-year man, more familiar and comfortable with the program he took over in December of 2023.

Despite going 4-8 in his first Big 12 season, the 12 games showed his vision for the program, but the year also reminded him of how challenging succeeding can be in the conference.

“The Big 12 is a fantastic conference, and everybody is pretty good,” Fritz said.

Fritz is well-travelled in his now 32 years of head coaching experience, having been a part of five conferences before joining Houston, but his sixth allows for even fewer days off, and punishes off-days like no league before it.

“There were some games where maybe you brought your C-game, and you still were able to win. That’s not the case in our league,” Fritz said. “Everybody’s good, top-to-bottom.”

Houston’s next step toward competing for a conference title started with this offseason’s internal competition among key position groups, a luxury the program lacked last year.

“One guy was kind of going to start for us no matter what. Now we’re going to have to use our first two or three games to figure out exactly who is going to be playing and how much they’re going to be playing.”

Despite his familiarity with the city of Houston dating back decades, Fritz spent his first offseason getting acclimated to the school while working with what he already had on his roster, leaving little time for recruiting.

One year later, Fritz is confident with the talent and depth he has assembled, headlined by former Texas A&M quarterback and five-star recruit Conner Weigman.

“He’s been everything I hoped he’d be. He’s a great young man, great leadership abilities,” Fritz said. “We’re just very fortunate to have him in our football program. Just a real, old-fashioned type of quarterback.”

Weigman, now back fully healthy after injury setbacks in seasons past, will have a retooled offensive line to protect him, another group Fritz looked to bolster ahead of the 2025 campaign.

After the spring football game in April, Fritz caught a glimpse of his new offensive line’s potential, calling the unit a “night and day” difference from last year.

A revamped offensive line should allow for better pass protection, but one of the benefits Weigman presents is the dual-threat archetype that’s prevalent in Houston’s quarterback room, and aligns with Fritz and new offensive coordinator Slade Nagle’s visions.

“We like to be a 50-50 team. If you want to win championships, you’ve got to be able to run the football effectively, and Slade certainly understands that,” Fritz said.

Nagle served as his tight end’s coach at Tulane from 2016-21, before becoming assistant head coach in 2022 until Fritz’s departure in 2023.

He then spent 2024 as LSU’s special teams and tight ends coach, which has allowed him to introduce new concepts during the spring that differ from what Fritz had seen at Tulane, while still maintaining a balance between passing and running.

That balance wasn’t present last season, when Houston averaged 152.7 passing yards per game, nearly fifty yards less than second-worst Utah’s 199.4 among the Big 12 and 11th worst nationally.

The starting quarterback seesaw where starts and snaps were traded between Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss only accentuated the imbalance even more.

But it’s a balance Fritz and his staff know they need to restore heading into year two, where Weigman, Chriss and freshman quarterback Austin Carlisle will get reps throughout a preseason in which Houston will hone its new offensive identity.

“Our slogan this year is Houston. When we break (huddle) it’s 2025 Houston,” Fritz said. “Not 2026, 2027, every team now is going to be its own team.”

The first preseason practice is July 28, with the Cougars kicking off their season in a home matchup against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Aug. 28 at TDECU Stadium.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“How Willie Fritz is looking to elevate Houston in year two” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston football head coach Willie Fritz speaks to the team after practice on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Houston, Texas | Joshua Braggs/The Cougar

When Houston football’s head coach Willie Fritz spoke to reporters Wednesday morning as part of Big 12 media days, he arrived as a second-year man, more familiar and comfortable with the program he took over in December of 2023.

Despite going 4-8 in his first Big 12 season, the 12 games showed his vision for the program, but the year also reminded him of how challenging succeeding can be in the conference.

“The Big 12 is a fantastic conference, and everybody is pretty good,” Fritz said.

Fritz is well-travelled in his now 32 years of head coaching experience, having been a part of five conferences before joining Houston, but his sixth allows for even fewer days off, and punishes off-days like no league before it.

“There were some games where maybe you brought your C-game, and you still were able to win. That’s not the case in our league,” Fritz said. “Everybody’s good, top-to-bottom.”

Houston’s next step toward competing for a conference title started with this offseason’s internal competition among key position groups, a luxury the program lacked last year.

“One guy was kind of going to start for us no matter what. Now we’re going to have to use our first two or three games to figure out exactly who is going to be playing and how much they’re going to be playing.”

Despite his familiarity with the city of Houston dating back decades, Fritz spent his first offseason getting acclimated to the school while working with what he already had on his roster, leaving little time for recruiting.

One year later, Fritz is confident with the talent and depth he has assembled, headlined by former Texas A&M quarterback and five-star recruit Conner Weigman.

“He’s been everything I hoped he’d be. He’s a great young man, great leadership abilities,” Fritz said. “We’re just very fortunate to have him in our football program. Just a real, old-fashioned type of quarterback.”

Weigman, now back fully healthy after injury setbacks in seasons past, will have a retooled offensive line to protect him, another group Fritz looked to bolster ahead of the 2025 campaign.

After the spring football game in April, Fritz caught a glimpse of his new offensive line’s potential, calling the unit a “night and day” difference from last year.

A revamped offensive line should allow for better pass protection, but one of the benefits Weigman presents is the dual-threat archetype that’s prevalent in Houston’s quarterback room, and aligns with Fritz and new offensive coordinator Slade Nagle’s visions.

“We like to be a 50-50 team. If you want to win championships, you’ve got to be able to run the football effectively, and Slade certainly understands that,” Fritz said.

Nagle served as his tight end’s coach at Tulane from 2016-21, before becoming assistant head coach in 2022 until Fritz’s departure in 2023.

He then spent 2024 as LSU’s special teams and tight ends coach, which has allowed him to introduce new concepts during the spring that differ from what Fritz had seen at Tulane, while still maintaining a balance between passing and running.

That balance wasn’t present last season, when Houston averaged 152.7 passing yards per game, nearly fifty yards less than second-worst Utah’s 199.4 among the Big 12 and 11th worst nationally.

The starting quarterback seesaw where starts and snaps were traded between Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss only accentuated the imbalance even more.

But it’s a balance Fritz and his staff know they need to restore heading into year two, where Weigman, Chriss and freshman quarterback Austin Carlisle will get reps throughout a preseason in which Houston will hone its new offensive identity.

“Our slogan this year is Houston. When we break (huddle) it’s 2025 Houston,” Fritz said. “Not 2026, 2027, every team now is going to be its own team.”

The first preseason practice is July 28, with the Cougars kicking off their season in a home matchup against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Aug. 28 at TDECU Stadium.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“How Willie Fritz is looking to elevate Houston in year two” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston football head coach Willie Fritz speaks to the team after practice on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Houston, Texas | Joshua Braggs/The Cougar

When Houston football’s head coach Willie Fritz spoke to reporters Wednesday morning as part of Big 12 media days, he arrived as a second-year man, more familiar and comfortable with the program he took over in December of 2023.

Despite going 4-8 in his first Big 12 season, the 12 games showed his vision for the program, but the year also reminded him of how challenging succeeding can be in the conference.

“The Big 12 is a fantastic conference, and everybody is pretty good,” Fritz said.

Fritz is well-travelled in his now 32 years of head coaching experience, having been a part of five conferences before joining Houston, but his sixth allows for even fewer days off, and punishes off-days like no league before it.

“There were some games where maybe you brought your C-game, and you still were able to win. That’s not the case in our league,” Fritz said. “Everybody’s good, top-to-bottom.”

Houston’s next step toward competing for a conference title started with this offseason’s internal competition among key position groups, a luxury the program lacked last year.

“One guy was kind of going to start for us no matter what. Now we’re going to have to use our first two or three games to figure out exactly who is going to be playing and how much they’re going to be playing.”

Despite his familiarity with the city of Houston dating back decades, Fritz spent his first offseason getting acclimated to the school while working with what he already had on his roster, leaving little time for recruiting.

One year later, Fritz is confident with the talent and depth he has assembled, headlined by former Texas A&M quarterback and five-star recruit Conner Weigman.

“He’s been everything I hoped he’d be. He’s a great young man, great leadership abilities,” Fritz said. “We’re just very fortunate to have him in our football program. Just a real, old-fashioned type of quarterback.”

Weigman, now back fully healthy after injury setbacks in seasons past, will have a retooled offensive line to protect him, another group Fritz looked to bolster ahead of the 2025 campaign.

After the spring football game in April, Fritz caught a glimpse of his new offensive line’s potential, calling the unit a “night and day” difference from last year.

A revamped offensive line should allow for better pass protection, but one of the benefits Weigman presents is the dual-threat archetype that’s prevalent in Houston’s quarterback room, and aligns with Fritz and new offensive coordinator Slade Nagle’s visions.

“We like to be a 50-50 team. If you want to win championships, you’ve got to be able to run the football effectively, and Slade certainly understands that,” Fritz said.

Nagle served as his tight end’s coach at Tulane from 2016-21, before becoming assistant head coach in 2022 until Fritz’s departure in 2023.

He then spent 2024 as LSU’s special teams and tight ends coach, which has allowed him to introduce new concepts during the spring that differ from what Fritz had seen at Tulane, while still maintaining a balance between passing and running.

That balance wasn’t present last season, when Houston averaged 152.7 passing yards per game, nearly fifty yards less than second-worst Utah’s 199.4 among the Big 12 and 11th worst nationally.

The starting quarterback seesaw where starts and snaps were traded between Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss only accentuated the imbalance even more.

But it’s a balance Fritz and his staff know they need to restore heading into year two, where Weigman, Chriss and freshman quarterback Austin Carlisle will get reps throughout a preseason in which Houston will hone its new offensive identity.

“Our slogan this year is Houston. When we break (huddle) it’s 2025 Houston,” Fritz said. “Not 2026, 2027, every team now is going to be its own team.”

The first preseason practice is July 28, with the Cougars kicking off their season in a home matchup against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Aug. 28 at TDECU Stadium.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“How Willie Fritz is looking to elevate Houston in year two” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston football head coach Willie Fritz speaks to the team after practice on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Houston, Texas | Joshua Braggs/The Cougar

When Houston football’s head coach Willie Fritz spoke to reporters Wednesday morning as part of Big 12 media days, he arrived as a second-year man, more familiar and comfortable with the program he took over in December of 2023.

Despite going 4-8 in his first Big 12 season, the 12 games showed his vision for the program, but the year also reminded him of how challenging succeeding can be in the conference.

“The Big 12 is a fantastic conference, and everybody is pretty good,” Fritz said.

Fritz is well-travelled in his now 32 years of head coaching experience, having been a part of five conferences before joining Houston, but his sixth allows for even fewer days off, and punishes off-days like no league before it.

“There were some games where maybe you brought your C-game, and you still were able to win. That’s not the case in our league,” Fritz said. “Everybody’s good, top-to-bottom.”

Houston’s next step toward competing for a conference title started with this offseason’s internal competition among key position groups, a luxury the program lacked last year.

“One guy was kind of going to start for us no matter what. Now we’re going to have to use our first two or three games to figure out exactly who is going to be playing and how much they’re going to be playing.”

Despite his familiarity with the city of Houston dating back decades, Fritz spent his first offseason getting acclimated to the school while working with what he already had on his roster, leaving little time for recruiting.

One year later, Fritz is confident with the talent and depth he has assembled, headlined by former Texas A&M quarterback and five-star recruit Conner Weigman.

“He’s been everything I hoped he’d be. He’s a great young man, great leadership abilities,” Fritz said. “We’re just very fortunate to have him in our football program. Just a real, old-fashioned type of quarterback.”

Weigman, now back fully healthy after injury setbacks in seasons past, will have a retooled offensive line to protect him, another group Fritz looked to bolster ahead of the 2025 campaign.

After the spring football game in April, Fritz caught a glimpse of his new offensive line’s potential, calling the unit a “night and day” difference from last year.

A revamped offensive line should allow for better pass protection, but one of the benefits Weigman presents is the dual-threat archetype that’s prevalent in Houston’s quarterback room, and aligns with Fritz and new offensive coordinator Slade Nagle’s visions.

“We like to be a 50-50 team. If you want to win championships, you’ve got to be able to run the football effectively, and Slade certainly understands that,” Fritz said.

Nagle served as his tight end’s coach at Tulane from 2016-21, before becoming assistant head coach in 2022 until Fritz’s departure in 2023.

He then spent 2024 as LSU’s special teams and tight ends coach, which has allowed him to introduce new concepts during the spring that differ from what Fritz had seen at Tulane, while still maintaining a balance between passing and running.

That balance wasn’t present last season, when Houston averaged 152.7 passing yards per game, nearly fifty yards less than second-worst Utah’s 199.4 among the Big 12 and 11th worst nationally.

The starting quarterback seesaw where starts and snaps were traded between Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss only accentuated the imbalance even more.

But it’s a balance Fritz and his staff know they need to restore heading into year two, where Weigman, Chriss and freshman quarterback Austin Carlisle will get reps throughout a preseason in which Houston will hone its new offensive identity.

“Our slogan this year is Houston. When we break (huddle) it’s 2025 Houston,” Fritz said. “Not 2026, 2027, every team now is going to be its own team.”

The first preseason practice is July 28, with the Cougars kicking off their season in a home matchup against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Aug. 28 at TDECU Stadium.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“How Willie Fritz is looking to elevate Houston in year two” was originally posted on The Cougar

talks to media, Friday, June 06, 2025 in Houston, Texas. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar

Two more Houston Cougars are set to take the floor in the NBA Summer League, with forwards J’Wan Roberts joining the Utah Jazz and Ja’Vier Francis teaming up with L.J. Cryer on the Golden State Warriors.

After going undrafted, both Roberts and Francis signed Summer League deals in the days following the NBA draft.

Roberts spent six decorated years with Houston from 2019-25, becoming the winningest player in both the program’s history and Fertitta Center history.

This past season, Roberts also became one of only four Cougars in history to achieve both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career.

Having redshirted his first year, Roberts’ role steadily grew in the following seasons, eventually becoming a mainstay in Houston’s starting lineup in 2022-23, and he finished his career starting 109 of his last 110 games.

Roberts averaged a career-high 10.6 points alongside 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his graduate campaign.

Francis reunites with familiar face

Francis joins former Houston guard L.J. Cryer who signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Warriors on Thursday night.

Much like Roberts, Francis saw an increased role in his third year playing, starting all 37 games on Houston’s 2023-24 team which went 15-3 in Big 12 play to win the conference title.

Despite starting only seven games this past season and battling an injured groin early on, Francis was just as impactful, averaging 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per contest, and shot a career-best 72.1 percent from the free throw line.

If Roberts and Francis make their teams’ final rosters, they would join Quentin Grimes, Marcus Sasser, Jarace Walker and Jamal Shead and UH alumnus in the NBA.

The Utah Jazz’s Summer League schedule is set to start on Friday, July 11, against the Charlotte Hornets while the Golden State Warriors kick off Summer League play that same day against the Portland Trailblazers.

Both will take place at the Thomas & Mack Center and Pavilion in Las Vegas.

—
“J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis sign Summer League deals with Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors” was originally posted on The Cougar

talks to media, Friday, June 06, 2025 in Houston, Texas. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar

Two more Houston Cougars are set to take the floor in the NBA Summer League, with forwards J’Wan Roberts joining the Utah Jazz and Ja’Vier Francis teaming up with L.J. Cryer on the Golden State Warriors.

After going undrafted, both Roberts and Francis signed Summer League deals in the days following the NBA draft.

Roberts spent six decorated years with Houston from 2019-25, becoming the winningest player in both the program’s history and Fertitta Center history.

This past season, Roberts also became one of only four Cougars in history to achieve both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career.

Having redshirted his first year, Roberts’ role steadily grew in the following seasons, eventually becoming a mainstay in Houston’s starting lineup in 2022-23, and he finished his career starting 109 of his last 110 games.

Roberts averaged a career-high 10.6 points alongside 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his graduate campaign.

Francis reunites with familiar face

Francis joins former Houston guard L.J. Cryer who signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Warriors on Thursday night.

Much like Roberts, Francis saw an increased role in his third year playing, starting all 37 games on Houston’s 2023-24 team which went 15-3 in Big 12 play to win the conference title.

Despite starting only seven games this past season and battling an injured groin early on, Francis was just as impactful, averaging 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per contest, and shot a career-best 72.1 percent from the free throw line.

If Roberts and Francis make their teams’ final rosters, they would join Quentin Grimes, Marcus Sasser, Jarace Walker and Jamal Shead and UH alumnus in the NBA.

The Utah Jazz’s Summer League schedule is set to start on Friday, July 11, against the Charlotte Hornets while the Golden State Warriors kick off Summer League play that same day against the Portland Trailblazers.

Both will take place at the Thomas & Mack Center and Pavilion in Las Vegas.

—
“J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis sign Summer League deals with Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors” was originally posted on The Cougar

talks to media, Friday, June 06, 2025 in Houston, Texas. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar

Two more Houston Cougars are set to take the floor in the NBA Summer League, with forwards J’Wan Roberts joining the Utah Jazz and Ja’Vier Francis teaming up with L.J. Cryer on the Golden State Warriors.

After going undrafted, both Roberts and Francis signed Summer League deals in the days following the NBA draft.

Roberts spent six decorated years with Houston from 2019-25, becoming the winningest player in both the program’s history and Fertitta Center history.

This past season, Roberts also became one of only four Cougars in history to achieve both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career.

Having redshirted his first year, Roberts’ role steadily grew in the following seasons, eventually becoming a mainstay in Houston’s starting lineup in 2022-23, and he finished his career starting 109 of his last 110 games.

Roberts averaged a career-high 10.6 points alongside 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his graduate campaign.

Francis reunites with familiar face

Francis joins former Houston guard L.J. Cryer who signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Warriors on Thursday night.

Much like Roberts, Francis saw an increased role in his third year playing, starting all 37 games on Houston’s 2023-24 team which went 15-3 in Big 12 play to win the conference title.

Despite starting only seven games this past season and battling an injured groin early on, Francis was just as impactful, averaging 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per contest, and shot a career-best 72.1 percent from the free throw line.

If Roberts and Francis make their teams’ final rosters, they would join Quentin Grimes, Marcus Sasser, Jarace Walker and Jamal Shead and UH alumnus in the NBA.

The Utah Jazz’s Summer League schedule is set to start on Friday, July 11, against the Charlotte Hornets while the Golden State Warriors kick off Summer League play that same day against the Portland Trailblazers.

Both will take place at the Thomas & Mack Center and Pavilion in Las Vegas.

—
“J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis sign Summer League deals with Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors” was originally posted on The Cougar

talks to media, Friday, June 06, 2025 in Houston, Texas. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar

Two more Houston Cougars are set to take the floor in the NBA Summer League, with forwards J’Wan Roberts joining the Utah Jazz and Ja’Vier Francis teaming up with L.J. Cryer on the Golden State Warriors.

After going undrafted, both Roberts and Francis signed Summer League deals in the days following the NBA draft.

Roberts spent six decorated years with Houston from 2019-25, becoming the winningest player in both the program’s history and Fertitta Center history.

This past season, Roberts also became one of only four Cougars in history to achieve both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career.

Having redshirted his first year, Roberts’ role steadily grew in the following seasons, eventually becoming a mainstay in Houston’s starting lineup in 2022-23, and he finished his career starting 109 of his last 110 games.

Roberts averaged a career-high 10.6 points alongside 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his graduate campaign.

Francis reunites with familiar face

Francis joins former Houston guard L.J. Cryer who signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Warriors on Thursday night.

Much like Roberts, Francis saw an increased role in his third year playing, starting all 37 games on Houston’s 2023-24 team which went 15-3 in Big 12 play to win the conference title.

Despite starting only seven games this past season and battling an injured groin early on, Francis was just as impactful, averaging 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per contest, and shot a career-best 72.1 percent from the free throw line.

If Roberts and Francis make their teams’ final rosters, they would join Quentin Grimes, Marcus Sasser, Jarace Walker and Jamal Shead and UH alumnus in the NBA.

The Utah Jazz’s Summer League schedule is set to start on Friday, July 11, against the Charlotte Hornets while the Golden State Warriors kick off Summer League play that same day against the Portland Trailblazers.

Both will take place at the Thomas & Mack Center and Pavilion in Las Vegas.

—
“J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis sign Summer League deals with Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors” was originally posted on The Cougar