local
Emanuel Sharp becomes 3rd UH Cougar taken in NBA Draft, 45th to Kings in 2nd Round
By Randy McIlvoy at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· June 25, 2026
· 1 min read
University of Houston guard Emanuel Sharp became the latest Cougar to enter the professional ranks when he was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the #45 overall pick in the Second Round of the 2026 NBA Draft includes Barclays Center on Tuesday night.Sharp watched the Draft with his family, fr...
Key takeaway With Sharp’s selection, the 2025-26 Cougars set a school single-season record with their third student-athlete selected in the NBA Draft.
Why this matters in The Pearland
The selection of Emanuel Sharp by the Sacramento Kings is a testament to the University of Houston's strong basketball program, which has been a source of pride for the Pearland community and the broader Houston area. With three Cougars taken in the 2026 NBA Draft, the program has solidified its position as a powerhouse in college basketball, tying with six other top schools for the highest total in this year's draft. This achievement is particularly notable given the team's impressive 30-7 overall record and seventh consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, which has helped to put the university and the city on the national basketball map. As Sharp begins his professional career, local fans will be watching with interest to see how he performs at the next level, and how his success might impact the reputation and recruitment of the University of Houston's basketball program.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Pearland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 25, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
Get more The Pearland stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? University of Houston guard Emanuel Sharp became the latest Cougar to enter the professional ranks when he was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the #45 overall pick in the Second Round of the 2026 NBA Draft includes Barclays Center on Tuesday night.Sharp watched the Draft with his family, fr...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Pearland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Randy McIlvoy at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Pearland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Pearland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter