Evaluating Chris Cenac Jr., Kingston Flemings, and Tahaad Pettiford

November 18th, 2025

This time around, I took the time to watch Chris Cenac Jr., Kingston Flemings, and Houston square off against Auburn in a highly competitive basketball game that took place two days ago. It was an intense, back and forth game in which Houston managed to hold on for the win, and both Cenac and Flemings played very well. Here are my thoughts on how they and other various performers fared, as well as how their games may stack up as prospects for the NBA.

Houston’s freshman Chris Cenac Jr. scored 18 points, made 2 threes, had 9 rebounds, and blocked a shot in his team’s 73-72 win over Auburn. (Photo: Jake Crandall/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, via Sports Illustrated)

Chris Cenac Jr. had a great showing in his team’s win over Auburn. He is a very athletic and skilled big man that showed off versatile scoring skills on offense.

Cenac did a great job of making shots in this game. He did excellent work as an outside shooter, as he would make smooth, spot-up threes off the catch. He would get the ball on the move to score on powerful dunks. He also run quickly off the ball to make mid-range jumpers. Plus, he was terrific as a scorer from the post, as he would score on tough, turnaround, fadeaway jumpers. Cenac showed a terrific shooting touch, as well as the footwork and the athleticism to consistently knock down shots.

He also did a good job of rebounding the basketball. He also showed off some defensive skills. Cenac was able to block a three-point shot to showcase his defensive prowess. However, sometimes he would tend to commit fouls due to over-aggressiveness. He also would occasionally get beat off the dribble, which would lead him to commit fouls and allow scores.

In general, Cenac played very well in this game, and he is a very skilled big man that could be a likely lottery pick in the 2026 draft, as he could end up being a star player in the NBA.

Houston’s freshman point guard, Kingston Flemings scored 22 points, and had 7 assist and 5 rebounds in his team’s 73-72 win over Auburn. (Photo: David Leong/Imagn Images, via Sports Illustrated)

Kingston Flemings also had a terrific showing to lead his team to a win over Auburn. He did a good job of scoring off the dribble, as he would often score on smooth pull-up mid-range jumpers, and he also would go all the way to the hoop to score on quick layups, due to possessing deft footwork and shooting touch. Plus, he was able to make a smooth, pull-up three, but he was a little more streaky with his three-point shot.

He also displayed satisfactory playmaking skills. He is a fleet-footed guard that was able to make an assortment of passes off the dribble to set up scores for his teammates. Sometimes though, he would throw hasty, inaccurate passes that would lead to turnovers.

Also, he showed a solid ability to rebound the basketball. Plus, Flemings also defended well. He was able to block a shot off of a drive due to possessing good athleticism, timing, and instincts. He also deflected a pass out of bounds.

In summary, Flemings played very well in his team’s win over Auburn. He is an athletic and very skilled point guard that could end up being a lottery pick in the 2026 draft, and he could end up being a very good player in the NBA.

Tahaad Pettiford also played fairly well in his team’s loss to Houston. He is a fleet-footed playmaker that showed off versatile scoring skills, and he also made some very solid defensive plays, but he was a bit inefficient as a scorer in this game.

Pettiford showed a knack for making smooth pull-up threes, and he would use crafty Euro-step moves to score off the dribble. However, sometimes he would get his shots blocked when taking it to the rim, and he also was streaky with his jump shot.

He also displayed satisfactory playmaking skills. He was able to make an assortment of passes to get his teammates the basketball, and he especially did a good job of making passes off the dribble. On the downside, he didn’t get many rebounds in this game. He also defended fairly well. He was able to rotate to block a shot off of a drive out of bounds. Pettiford was able to run in to get a steal. He also contested a deep step-back three to force an air-ball late in the game.

Overall, Pettiford is a talented prospect that showed off versatile skills in this game, and his ability to make plays on both sides of the ball combined with his athleticism, scoring prowess, and upside could enable him to be a first round pick in the 2026 draft.

Keyshawn Hall played fairly well in his team’s loss to Houston. He is a strong scorer out of the post, as he would make powerful moves to do so, and he also was effective at scoring off the dribble and on the move. However, he was unable to connect on any of his three-point shots. He also passed the ball well, especially off the dribble.

Hall did a terrific job of rebounding the basketball. He also played adequate defense. He was able to use a pull out the chair move when defending in the post once. However, he would sometimes be too aggressive on his close-outs, which would lead him to commit fouls.

Overall, Hall had a solid showing in this game, and while he will need to improve his outside shot, he is a high-motor and agile scorer and rebounder whose ability to do so could enable him to make it to the NBA.

Elyjah Freeman had a decent showing in his team’s loss to Houston. He is a very athletic 6-8 swingman who showed off versatile scoring skills, and he was able to drive quickly to score on a thunderous dunk while getting fouled. He also managed to score on a tough, reverse layup, as well as on a smooth three another time. However, he was streaky with his shot, and he would sometimes miss on tough, contested shots when driving to the rim.

He also displayed adequate playmaking skills. He was able to make a couple of solid passes off the dribble to set up scores for them. However, sometimes he would struggle to handle the ball when pressured, which would lead him to commit turnovers.

He also was able to get his fair share of boards. Freeman played decent defense. He would jump passes to get steals, but he would sometimes commit fouls on opposing ball-handlers due to over-aggressiveness. Overall, he is a very athletic swingman that showed off promising skills, and while he will need to be a more consistent player on the floor, he is a skilled player that could project to go in the late first to the second round range for the 2026 draft.

Isiah Harwell had his ups and downs in his team’s win over Auburn. He is athletic, skilled swingman that has had a really tough start to this season, but he was able to make some solid plays in this game.

Harwell was able to run the floor to make a smooth, open corner three on the break to showcase his shooting skills. He also drew free throws on a step-back mid-range jumper. However, he was streaky with his outside shot, and he also missed a tip-in due to rushing.

He also displayed solid playmaking skills. Harwell passed the ball well, and he was able to throw a crisp outlet pass to set up a score for a teammate on the break. Plus, he also was able to get his fair share of boards when he was on the floor. He also played decent defense. Harwell was able to jump a pass to get a steal. He also stayed in front of his man and contested a shot off of a drive to force a miss. However, he committed an aggressive reach-in foul in the backcourt once due to over-aggressiveness. He also got outmuscled in the post to give up a basket another time.

Overall, Harwell hasn’t played nearly as well as expected so far this season, but he was able to have some very good moments in this game, and he can certainly build off of that moving forward. He is an athletic swingman that projects into a 3 and D role in the NBA, and while he will need to continue to build and develop his game, he is an intriguing, high-upside long-term prospect that could move up draft boards in a couple of years if he works hard to hone his craft.

Milos Uzan had his ups and downs in this game, but he was able to make some big shots late in the game to help Houston get the win. He was effective as a scorer off the dribble, and he also was able to make a smooth, pull-up three, but he also was streaky with his outside shot, and sometimes he would miss some tough shots around the basket.

He displayed decent playmaking skills, as he was effective at finding the roll men to set up scoring chances for them, but sometimes he would be inaccurate with his passes. He did not grab many rebounds in this game. He also played perhaps above average defense. He was able to deflect passes, as he also broke up a lob pass late in this game. However, he would tend to be too aggressive in making plays on the ball and closing out, and he had a tendency to foul three-point shooters in the corner.

Overall, Uzan didn’t have his best game, but he is an athletic point guard that made enough plays to help his team get the win. He projects to be a game-managing point guard at the NBA level, and he is a second round prospect for the 2026 draft.

Emanuel Sharp also had his ups and downs in his team’s win over Auburn. Sharp showed an improved ability to score off the dribble, and he also was able to make some outside shots, but he was quite streaky with his three-point shot in this game. He did defend well, as he would make plays on the ball to get steals and deflections, and he also blocked a shot, but he also would occasionally commit reach-in fouls due to over-aggressiveness. Overall, Sharp is a sharpshooting combo guard that can make a variety of shots, but he will need to improve his playmaking skills. Still, he is a second round prospect for the 2026 draft, as his jump shot could enable him to make his way into the NBA someday.

Sebastian Williams-Adams is a strong big man that was quite effective as a scorer in the post as well as off the dribble and on hustle plays, as he would often draw fouls to get to the free throw line. He also managed to score on a turnaround jumper from the post, and he also scored on a strong dunk another time. He also threw a crisp pass when doubled out of the post to set up a score for a teammate. He will need to extend his shooting range, but Williams-Adams is an athletic combo forward that could be a prospect to watch in the future.

Joseph Tugler did a very good job of blocking shots and getting steals for his team, and he also was able to throw down a couple of strong dunks on the move, but he would often miss close-range shots around the basket, and he struggled to score in the post. He was able to make a solid pass to find a cutter to notch an assist. Plus, he rebounded well, but he also ended up fouling out. Overall, Tugler didn’t shoot the ball well, but he is an athletic, undersized big man that excelled defensively, and he is a second round prospect for the 2026 draft.

Filip Jovic was expected to make an impact in this game, especially given his ability to produce in professional basketball in prior seasons, but his play was rather disappointing in his team’s loss to Houston. He was held scoreless, and he lost the ball twice when driving to the hoop, which led to turnovers. On the other hand, he did manage to get his hands on a pass to help his team get a steal, and he also managed to get an assist, as well as contribute on the boards. Overall though, he will need to be more assertive in looking for his outside shot, and he will need to improve his ability to space the floor. If he can do that, he could end up making his way to the NBA. Otherwise, he could still end up having a solid career overseas.

All in all, Cenac and Flemings played very well in this game, and it was a close game in which Houston held on to get the narrow win over Auburn. That’s all for now, and thanks for reading.