Transfer Chaney finds his niche with Cougars
HOUSTON — When University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson began searching for frontcourt help this summer, Reggie Chaney checked all the boxes.
Chaney, a 6-foot-8 transfer from Arkansas, fit UH’s culture and style of play. He’s big, strong, tough and hard-nosed — all qualities Sampson has emphasized while building one of the top college basketball programs in the country.
In a transfer portal sometimes filled with hundreds of options, Chaney stood out.
“Of all the guys that I saw, the one that I really, really wanted was Reggie,” said Sampson, who sixthranked Cougars (6-0) play Central Florida today in Orlando, Fla. “Because I knew he fit us the best.”
Confirmation came in a 33point rout of Alcorn State on Sunday. Chaney had 18 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes, his most extensive playing time of the season.
Before the game, Sampson told Chaney that he wanted him to attack Alcorn State like he does every day against UH big men Justin Gorham, Brison Gresham and J’Wan Roberts in intense, hourlong pre-practice sessions.
“We battle before practice and sweat hard,” Gorham said. “We knew everything Reggie was capable of. (The Alcorn State game) was his moment to shine.”
Chaney’s availability in the transfer portal came at a time the Cougars needed to add to the frontcourt after the loss of Fabian White Jr., a key starter who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the offseason.
“You don’t replace (Fabian),’ Sampson said at the time of Chaney’s signing. “I don’t care who we would have gotten. There’s a lot of kids that were available, but not all of them fit us.”
Sampson said it’s not uncommon for players who enter the transfer portal to begin receiving interest almost immediately.
“Probably within two hours your phone doesn’t stop,” Sampson said.
Sampson had some connections in persuading Chaney to transfer to UH. Chaney’s mother,
Chandra, went to high school with a player Sampson coached at Oklahoma. Sampson also had relationships with assistants on the Arkansas coaching staff. Plus, Chaney’s family was familiar with Sampson from his days at Oklahoma.
“Once the assistant coaches that he had at Arkansas talked to him about our style of play and
how we go about our business here, I think that really appealed to Reggie,” Sampson said.
After he signed with UH, Chaney received a waiver to play immediately.
But playing time was hard to come by early in the season. When the coronavirus caused a pause in workouts and limited Gresham, the team’s normal starter in the post, Chaney was inserted into the lineup and played 20 minutes in back-to-back wins, the latter a 13point, three-rebound performance against Temple to begin AAC play.
“Hard work pays off,” guard Quentin Grimes said. “We see Reggie every day in the gym before practice working out with (assistant) coach Kellen (Sampson). It’s not new to us. We see it every day in practice.”
Kelvin Sampson said Chaney will benefit from the increased playing and learning the Cougars’ system. And with this season not counting against eligibility, Chaney will be a junior and have two years eligibility left next season. The next step is for Chaney to develop around the basket, particularly when it comes to rebounding, a staple of Sampson’s program.
“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Sampson said. “I love Reggie Chaney. I think he is going to continue to get better.”