'26 NBA Draft: Making the case to draft Houston's Emanuel Sharp

“Fearless.”

That is the one word that Houston assistant coach Kellen Sampson used when describing Emanuel Sharp, a 2025-26 Jerry West Award finalist and the most outstanding player for the Midwest region in the ‘25 NCAA tournament.

Sharp’s path was different. Yes, once rated a four-star recruit, Sharp was on the radar of many, but he began his college career battling injuries. He would end up enrolling at Houston early, but would be unable to compete due to injury.

Fast forward to now, Sharp is Houston’s career leader in 3-point field goals and is also on a short list of former Cougars who have been a part of 100 career wins.

He averaged 15.5 points per game this year in part of an All-Conference first team season. 

Point blank, you know what you get with former Houston Cougars. Sharp is a pest on defense and can light it up on the offensive end. He’s completed 13 NBA workouts and also had the opportunity to showcase his two-way skillset at the combine.

I asked Kellen Sampson why an NBA organization should select Sharp, he said “[He’s] a two-way guard that is fearless. He defended anything and everything for us.”

Sharp screams sleeper in this draft. You look at guys who have carved careers as very effective two-way players. Sharp is a guy you look at in this draft and see the potential for a long NBA career.

“He was fearless enough to make threes for us when it mattered the most,” Sampson said in his extremely positive review of the former Cougar.

He’s been ranged anywhere from mid-to-late 30s, but I think wherever he lands, he’s going to be a steal. You know what you will be getting when you draft a guy of Sharp’s caliber.