Celtics draft Chris Cenac Jr. as college coach praises fit
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 19, 2026, 4:37 PM
Last updated Aug 19, 2026
The Boston Celtics selected Chris Cenac Jr. with the 27th pick in the NBA Draft. Despite being chosen later than expected, Cenac's college coach, Kelvin Sampson, is optimistic about his potential, citing the Celtics' strong culture and coaching. Cenac had a notable college career, leading his team in rebounds and earning recognition as a five-star prospect. He has begun to showcase his talent during Summer League play, indicating he is ready to prove doubters wrong.
- •Cenac was a consensus five-star prospect at Houston.
- •He averaged 7.9 rebounds per game during his college season.
- •Kelvin Sampson believes the Celtics can help Cenac become a superstar.
- •Cenac produced 14 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks in his Summer League opener.
- 4:37 PMYahoo Sports — Chris Cenac Jr.’s College Coach ‘Glad’ Celtics Took Rookie Late in NBA Draft: ‘They Believe In You’
"Though he was taken late in the NBA Draft, Kelvin Sampson believes the Celtics can develop Chris Cenac Jr. into a true superstar athlete.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NBA•Aug 19, 2026, 5:50 PMPayton Pritchard on talk with Mike Conley, new Boston Celtics teammates
NBA•Aug 19, 2026, 5:06 PMQueta on seeing Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla (and not Hugo Gonzalez) this summer
NBA•Aug 19, 2026, 4:25 PMCeltics owner Bill Chisholm admits he 'needed to be convinced' to trade Jaylen Brown
NBA•Aug 19, 2026, 2:45 PMNeemias Queta pushes back on Celtics doubters: 'We'll be competitive again'- NBA•Aug 19, 2026, 2:39 PMHugo is a very versatile player: he defends, shoots, …
NBA•Aug 19, 2026, 1:23 PMNBA Front Office Rankings (Part 1): Knicks soar over Celtics after winning title