University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson has been instrumental in the development of University of Houston point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. Thomas Jr., a 6-foot-1 lefty point guard who has shown a high-level ability to get into the lane and stress a defense, has committed to Houston out of the transfer portal. His father, former UNLV star Dedan, believes that the Houston program would be the perfect spot for the LSU transfer. Thomas Sr. is a coach himself, starting the West Coast Basketball program in Las Vegas 25 years ago and coaching for the high school level (Eldorado High) on the staff of Milos Uzan. He believes that Sampson's hard work ethic and culture of playing hard is what he has always wanted for his son.