When people think of men's college basketball powerhouses, many may not think of the University of Houston. But the school has gone to the NCAA Tournament 27 times, including in each of the last six seasons, and it reached the national championship game in 2025, where it lost to the University of Florida.
The Cougars were once known for their "Phi Slama Jama" teams of the early 1980s, which featured Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler and reached the title game in 1983 and 1984. Olajuwon and Drexler aren't the only Hall of Famers who played there -- Elvin Hayes honed his skills there during the 1960s.
Among current NBA players, new Los Angeles Lakers guard Quentin Grimes is a former member of the Cougars. Here is a look at the four Cougars the Lakers have
taken in the draft.
Don Boldebuck -- center
In two years at the University of Houston, Boldebuck averaged 23.1 points and 17 rebounds a game. The Lakers took him in the eighth round of the 1955 draft, and the Celtics chose him in the sixth round of the following year's draft, but he never played in the NBA.
Lyle Harger -- forward
Harger spent three years at the University of Houston and averaged 14.1 points and 10.1 rebounds a game. After the Lakers took him in the third round of the 1963 draft, he never played in the NBA.
Don Kruse -- center
Kruse registered 6.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists a game in two seasons with the Cougars. He was a 10th-round pick by the Lakers in the 1967 draft, but he didn't play in the NBA.
Lynden Rose -- guard
Rose put up 7.5 points and 3.3 assists per game in two seasons with the Cougars, and he went in the sixth round of the 1982 draft to the Lakers. He didn't play in the NBA.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Every University of Houston player drafted by the Lakers
