Houston Cougars Hosting All-ACC Transfer Guard for Visit

The Cougars look to the transfer portal to reload their roster with high-profile talent like Markus Burton after an early NCAA Tournament exit.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:52am

A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes in vibrant colors, representing the dynamic action and movement of a basketball game or match.Houston's quest to reload through the transfer portal aims to recapture the energy and excitement of their recent NCAA Tournament run.Houston Today

The Houston Cougars are expected to host a pair of notable transfers in the coming days, including Notre Dame guard Markus Burton, a two-time All-ACC selection and former ACC Rookie of the Year, as well as Kent State forward Delrecco Gillespie, who led the nation in double-doubles this past season.

Why it matters

With several key players departing, the Cougars are looking to the transfer portal to reload their roster ahead of the 2026-27 season. Landing a talent like Burton would be a major coup, as he could provide immediate scoring punch and playmaking to help Houston bounce back from their Sweet 16 exit.

The details

Burton, ranked as the No. 21 overall transfer by 247Sports, averaged 18.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for Notre Dame last season before an ankle injury sidelined him. In 2024-25, he led the ACC in scoring at 21.3 points per game. Gillespie, a 6-foot-8 forward, led college basketball with 22 double-doubles this past season, averaging 17.7 points and 11.3 rebounds for Kent State.

  • The NCAA transfer portal opened the day after the NCAA Tournament championship game on April 8, 2026.
  • Markus Burton and Delrecco Gillespie are scheduled to visit Houston by this weekend.

The players

Markus Burton

A two-time All-ACC selection and former ACC Rookie of the Year, Burton is ranked as the No. 21 overall transfer in the portal by 247Sports. The Notre Dame guard averaged 18.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game last season before an ankle injury.

Delrecco Gillespie

The Kent State forward led college basketball with 22 double-doubles this past season, averaging 17.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game while shooting 50.8% from the field.

Arafan Diane

A 7-foot-1, five-star center who is Houston's lone signee in the 2026 recruiting class.

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What they’re saying

“Notre Dame guard Markus Burton and Kent State forward Delrecco Gillespie are scheduled to visit Houston by this weekend.”

— James Mueller, Reporter, Coogs.com

The takeaway

This story highlights Houston's efforts to reload their roster through the transfer portal after an early NCAA Tournament exit, as they look to land high-profile talents like Markus Burton and Delrecco Gillespie to help them bounce back next season.