Former Houston point guard Kingston Flemings was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 8 pick in the NBA draft on Tuesday night, becoming Houston’s fourth first-round selection under coach Kelvin Sampson.
The 6-foot-4 San Antonio native wore a custom burgundy-and-gold pinstripe suit featuring photos from his journey on the lining and a “KF” brand logo pin on the exterior.
As a Cougar, Flemings, the first Houston freshman to earn All-American honors set the program’s freshman scoring records for both a single game and a season, pouring in 42 points against Texas Tech and finishing with nearly 600 points in 37 starts.
He led Houston with 16.1 points and 5.2 assists per game while embracing the Cougars’ gritty style, averaging 1.5 steals and 4.1 rebounds.
On Tuesday, Flemings published a letter to the general managers, writing:
“Now, I’m looking to live out my dream and become the point guard I was always meant to be for the next couple of decades and win a bunch of O’Brien Trophies for whichever team sees something special in me. I know that with dedication and determination, with discipline and a routine, I can become a hall of fame player one day.”
Flemings helped lead Houston to its seventh consecutive Sweet 16 alongside forward Chris Cenac Jr., another projected first-round pick, and guards Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan, both projected second-round selections.
Should all four be drafted, the class would be the largest in Houston history, surpassing the three players selected in 1984 when Olajuwon, Michael Young, and honorary pick Carl Lewis were drafted.
Flemings will prepare to compete in the NBA Salt Lake Summer League in Salt Lake City, Utah beginning July 4, and join the Hawks, who finished sixth in the Eastern Conference and acquired the pick through a 2025 draft night trade with the Pelicans.
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