Kingston Flemings has emerged as one of the top producers for Houston in the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season. The 6’4″ guard has posted excellent numbers as a freshman, which included an other-worldly 3-point shooting clip that had a college hoops expert in awe of his prowess from deep.
College Basketball Expert Stunned by Kingston Flemings’ Shooting Prowess
Houston has remained a top team in the nation, months after coming two points short of winning its first national title. The program stayed solid despite losing some key players due to eligibility and graduation. Highly-touted freshmen Chris Cenac Jr, Isiah Hartwell, and Flemings joined returnees Emmanuel Sharp, Joseph Tugler, and Milos Uzan.
Sharp and Uzan lead Kelvin Sampson’s offense this season, averaging 29.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 2.2 steals. Surprisingly, Flemings also stood out among his highly-rated teammates.
In nine games, Flemings has averaged 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. He is building his resume for NBA scouts who seek an energetic, young guard capable of carrying a team.
Even more impressive is his 60.9% field goal accuracy, which includes a 56.0% shooting mark from the 3-point line. This has surprised CBS Sports’ basketball recruiting expert Adam Finkelstein. On the Game Theory Podcast with Sam Vecenie, he admitted he misjudged the guard’s outside shooting. Now, Finkelstein is seeing what Flemings can do with the ball in his hands.
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Before sharing his thoughts on the Houston freshman, Finkelstein told Vecenie an anecdote during one of their meetings, comparing Flemings to Darius Acuff and stating that he believes Flemings is better.
With that claim, he reflected on why one might bet on Flemings over five-star Acuff. Flemings has helped Houston climb the AP Top 25 rankings with wins over Auburn, Notre Dame, and Florida State, as well as a 25-point outing against Tennessee, despite the loss.
Finkelstein then admitted he was wrong in his initial assessment of Flemings, especially regarding his 3-point shooting. He did not expect Flemings’ current shooting clip, given his unpolished mechanics in high school, though he doesn’t believe it will last all season.
“I had more concerns about his shooting than any other guard in the class. I mean that very literally. For him to shoot the ball the way he is right now is beyond my wildest expectations,” Finkelstein said. “He’s shooting 56% from the 3-point line. That’s absurd. I don’t expect that to be sustainable, but I didn’t expect him to like hand in the air. I didn’t think he would shoot 36% from the three-point line. I was wrong.”
Finkelstein initially assessed the guard as a Top 20 prospect in next year’s NBA Draft, but with the way things are shaping up for him, Flemings has climbed to the Top 10. The college basketball analyst took note of how Houston has put him in incredible positions where he can shoot the ball well and contribute to the team.
He also credits the Houston coaching staff, led by coach Kelvin Sampson, and playmaker Uzan for his on-court awareness and high IQ, which provide Flemings with better looks to support the offense, ultimately giving Houston a great chance of winning.
“He’s (Flemings) getting the ball off of like transition opportunities where he can get downhill or he’s getting the ball setting up off the ball attacking a close out getting to the rim or like stampede cut gets to the basket,” Finkelstein pointed out.
Adam Finkelstein Compares Kingston Flemings to a Less Athletic Derrick Rose
Finkelstein compared Flemings to a less athletic version of Memphis standout and former NBA MVP Derrick Rose. He stated that the guard is fearless like Rose, though he is less explosive than the NBA veteran.
His speed is also magnified by the way Houston runs its offense, which is more methodical and slow-paced. Flemings, according to Finkelstein, is an exceptional athlete who could surprise many, but he’s someone they should keep track of moving forward.
The guard is set to lead No. 7 Houston in their home game on Wednesday night against Jackson State at Fertitta Center in Houston, Texas. Tipoff is scheduled at 8:00 p.m. ET with ESPN+ covering the game on television and livestream.
