As the University of Houston basketball team gears up for another exciting season, anticipation is running high among players and fans alike. With practice set to begin and preseason rankings placing the Cougars in the Top 5, expectations are once again soaring. Head coach Kelvin Sampson is tasked with navigating the challenges that come with maintaining a top-tier program, especially as they prepare to compete in the Big 12 conference.
One of the significant issues Sampson has brought up is the necessity of private jet travel for recruiting. While this might seem like a luxury, for a program aiming to recruit the best talent in the nation, it has become essential. Sampson pointed out that with limited recruiting time, the ability to quickly visit multiple prospects in different states becomes a critical advantage.
“I have to have a private plane. Not because of convenience. It’s because of necessity, Sampson told PaperCity Magazine’s Chris Baldwin . “These kids are in different states. And if I’ve only got 2 or 3 days to be out, if I can get to three kids in one day… Most of the schools in the Big 12 have their own planes. I remember I had a plane and a pilot at Oklahoma.”…