Houston Cougars Should Target This Star in the Transfer Portal

Houston might attempt to go snag this athlete from Colorado.

Feb 28, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson coaches against the Colorado Buffaloes in the second half at Fertitta Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

If you're the Houston Cougars coaching staff, why not secure a player with experience in the Big 12 that you have seen up close and personal?

It adds up why Houston could be looking to do so after losing several players who were part of the 2025-26 campaign that reached the Sweet Sixteen at Toyota Center before wrapping up its season against Illinois.

Would the Cougars be willing to reel in a player who has the familiarity of what playing in the conference is like? Maybe.

There is uncertainty about what is going through Kelvin Sampson's mind and whether he will use the transfer portal to rebuild the roster, which featured talented players capable of becoming professionals at the next level.

If Houston wants to roll the dice on a player with a 'been there, done that' mentality and maturity, going after this Colorado player makes total sense.

Colorado Guard Isaiah Johnson

Mar 3, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Isaiah Johnson (2) reacts to a play against the Utah Utes by guard Josiah Sanders (5) during the first half at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

In the short time that the 6-foot-1 star played as a freshman under head coach Ted Boyle, Johnson was only a 3-star when he elected to continue his career with the Buffaloes. He was a student at Campbell Hall High School in Valley Village, California.

Kelvin Sampson is no stranger to recruiting players who are not the most highly sought after in their early stages, but who he sees as having the potential to bring to his program, which is why he is so good at bringing in players who fit his culture.

If you look at guys that Sampson has recently added to the program like Kingston Flemings and Chris Chris Cenac Jr., who both are being heavily watched by NBA scouts and were young in their growth, Johnson could be that guy with a bright future ahead of him in a program that might be the next player to etch his name in the Cougars’ history books.

While he was playing with Colorado, he averaged 16.9 points, leading the team and tying for the most games played with 32. When Johnson stepped on the floor, he averaged 30.6 minutes with an average of 2.6 rebounds 3 assists, and one steal.

From the field, the competitor shot 48.6 percent and was a 37.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc, so he is very accurate when he releases the ball. At the charity stripe, he also went 82.1 percent from the line, so the Cougars would be getting another weapon if they added Johnson.