NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Ranking 2023 5-star wing Ron Holland’s top 8
By Ian Mumm
Houston Cougars
The Cougars have an excellent track record of exceeding expectations and developing talent. Over the last 5 seasons, Houston only has fewer wins (143) than Villanova (144) and Gonzaga (154). Head coach Kelvin Sampson has elevated this program since taking over and suffered only one losing season at the helm. He’s maintained elite-level production on offense and defense from his players as a team and on an individual basis.
Sampson’s career accomplishments also speak for themselves, having recruited, coached, developed, and guided 13 players to the NBA between Houston and prior coaching stints at Washington State, Oklahoma, and Indiana. More could be on the way in this summer’s draft, as well as an increased potential in upcoming seasons as there’s been an uptick in recruiting results.
Holland’s goal, unlike many others entering college basketball, is to elevate his game to make the NBA. His style is idyllic for Houston which centers itself on suffocating defense, turning in efficient offensive possessions and crashing the glass.
This process is not new to Holland, who has been under college-like circumstances with Duncanville at the high school ranks. Coach Sampson has produced NBA players with this system ranked far lower than Holland or even top-40 studs Kijani Wright and Terence Arceneaux arriving on campus next season.
Adding in a top-10 talent like Holland should only enhance what Sampson has been able to achieve with other players and the team’s move to the Big 12 conference, potentially as early as next season, will undoubtedly create a bigger brand for the Houston program and its players.