‘Cool man’ Sampson lands 5-star guard Harwell

• Jeff Borzello Close Jeff Borzello ESPN Personnel Writer Basketball recruiting insider. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware.Paul Biancardi Close Paul Biancardi Basketball Recruiting National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com 18 years of coaching experience at Department I

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• ET Top-15 senior Isiah Harwell announced his commitment to
• Houston on Thursday, becoming simply the second five-star

prospect to select the Cougars considering that 2012. Harwell selected Kelvin Sampson’s program over a final list that likewise consisted of Gonzaga, Texas and California. He took sees to Gonzaga– at

one point considered the favorite– and California before the summer, then went to Houston and Texas in the last weeks of August. “Coach Sampson is a cool man,”Harwell told ESPN.”He understands what it considers players to reach the next level, we talked about that. I require to shoot 38-40 %from 3, typical

6 or seven rebounds and play defense on the opponent’s best perimeter player. He said if you don’t play defense you will not play at Houston. “Editor’s Picks 2 Related Harwell, an Idaho native, suffered a knee injury midway through his junior campaign at Wasatch Academy (Utah)that required him to miss out on the summer season grassroots season. But Houston kept constant contact with the

6-foot-6 guard and was patient with his process.The Cougars ‘staff even discussed the possibility of Harwell reclassifying up a year and registering at Houston to rehab his knee and redshirt the 2024-25 season. However Harwell didn’t have quite adequate credits– and wants to play during his senior year in

high school. He’s exercising and is anticipated back on the court at some point this fall.”Houston was extremely constant recruiting me during my injury and rehab,”Harwell stated. “On my check out it was a family environment. I got to spend a lot of time with the players, and we ended up sitting around and they were talking [about]

how they all came to Houston. Their culture is real.” Harwell is ranked No. 14 in the 2025 class, slotting in as the No. 3 shooting guard in the country. Prior to injury last season, he balanced 16.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 6 games on the EYBL Scholastic circuit and also won a gold medal with the USA Basketball U16 team at the FIBA Americas in 2023. From a young age, Harwell has actually had fun with poise and pace, showcasing a smooth shooting stroke that features elevation on his jumper, deep range and midrange touch. He is a complete guard, but it’s his efficiency as a scoring guard with playmaking ability that sticks out. His size, lower-body strength and length– he possesses a 6-foot-10 wingspan– give him the perfect frame.Harwell is Houston’s first dedication in the 2025 class, however he’s just the second luxury prospect to devote to Houston since 2012. When Jarace Walker, the No. 1 power forward in the 2022 class, selected the Cougars, he became the very first luxury Houston signee because Danuel House in the 2012 class. Harwell likewise marks the fourth straight class in which Houston has actually

landed an ESPN 100 possibility; the Cougars signed just one ESPN 100 hire total in the nine classes from 2013 to 2021. Sampson is working to build perhaps his best class given that reaching Houston, nevertheless. The Cougars are amongst the schools in pursuit of Koa Peat( No. 6)and Chris Cenac Jr.(No. 7)and are squarely in the mix for Kingston Flemings(No. 21)and John Clark (No. 40).