Houston basketball coach Kelvin Sampson erupted and was visibly frustrated during a online press conference when questioned about NIL’s impact on college recruiting. The veteran coach’s outburst revealed growing tensions between traditional coaching methods and modern financial realities.

Sampson’s response highlighted the frustration many established coaches feel as NIL transforms college basketball. His defiant stance positions Houston as one of the few major programs actively resisting the money-driven recruiting culture.

Kelvin Sampson Refuses To Discuss NIL in Recruiting

During the online press conference posted on Houston Athletics’ YouTube channel, Sampson said, “I don’t ever talk about NIL, ever. Ever’s a long time. Never do I ever talk about NIL.” His rejection of financial discussions revealed an unwavering commitment to traditional coaching methods.

The outburst came as college basketball grapples with unprecedented financial chaos. While competitors offer million-dollar packages to teenage recruits, Sampson refuses to participate in bidding wars that have transformed the sport’s landscape.

Sampson challenged skeptics to verify his claims, boldly stating, “If you can go interview every single one of our players and not one of them will ever say, ‘Well, Coach Samson said this about NIL.’ I don’t talk about it.”

Instead of financial discussions, Sampson focuses on basketball fundamentals and character development.

“I don’t talk about NIL,” Samspon said. “I talk about what you’ve got to do to be good. You know, how hard you’re going to work, how challenging our program is and how great our program can be for you.”

Houston’s traditional approach has proven remarkably successful despite avoiding NIL-heavy recruiting tactics. The Cougars just completed their most successful season in program history, finishing 35-5 overall and capturing both Big 12 regular season and tournament championships before reaching the national championship game.

The current NIL deals expose how it has forced traditional programs to make difficult choices. Rather than engage in financial arms races, Houston simply walks away from prospects demanding excessive compensation packages.

This approach stands in stark contrast to rival programs actively recruiting players with lucrative NIL deals. Major universities now allocate millions annually to secure top talent, fundamentally changing how coaches build their rosters.

KEEP READING: Houston’s Loaded 2025 Roster: Ranking Kelvin Sampson’s Top Recruits and Returning Stars

Houston’s success under Sampson’s traditional approach adds weight to his criticism. The Cougars have consistently competed at elite levels without embracing NIL-heavy recruiting tactics that dominate contemporary college basketball discussions.

Sampson’s defiant stance may prove unsustainable as NIL regulations evolve. However, Houston’s championship-level success demonstrates that traditional coaching methods can still compete against financial incentives in modern college basketball.

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

Every team in college basketball that has the best overall roster has found success largely due to its financial freedom. Whether you agree or not, the current college basketball landscape is completely driven by NIL valuation. The team that can offer the most will almost always secure the top-tier commitments.

In light of that, AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1-ranked high school recruit, has secured a NIL deal worth around $5 million from BYU. Naturally, a number this big raised some eyebrows. But NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock believes BYU isn’t crossing any lines. In his view, they are just playing the game right.

What Makes BYU’s Massive NIL Investment Sustainable?

Recently, some reports suggest that BYU’s financial strength has come under scrutiny following the massive NIL deal offered to AJ Dybantsa.

Last year, basketball insider Adam Zagoria reported that Brigham Young University had offered Dybantsa close to $7 million. However, in April, Dybantsa denied receiving that amount, saying, “I didn’t get that. That’s a false rumor.” Since he did not disclose the exact NIL value offered by BYU, many reports suggest that the deal is somewhere between $5 million and $7 million.

CBS Sports sources indicate the actual deal was approximately $5 million, which still represents one of the largest NIL packages in college basketball history. Given his status as the No. 1 overall college basketball recruit in the class of 2025, that figure is understandable. Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 forward from Massachusetts, is also projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

How Did BYU Land the Top Recruit Over Blue Bloods?

It is clear that the Cougars have aggressively positioned themselves as a major player in the NIL era. Dybantsa chose BYU over Alabama, North Carolina, and Kansas, traditional powerhouses that have won multiple national championships between them.

The key factor wasn’t just money. Dybantsa cited coach Kevin Young’s NBA ties as a major reason for his decision. Young, who was hired from the Phoenix Suns in April 2024, brought instant credibility to BYU’s program.

Why Does Matt Babcock Think BYU Can Keep This Up?

NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock addressed concerns about BYU’s spending model in a recent appearance on the “Pete Sousa Show,” saying, “They have a lot of financial resources. And with that, it’s not just, you paying these guys to play, not to pay for play entirely. They’ve got great resources. They’ve got an NBA-qualified coach in Kevin Young.”

He further added, “And so the combination of the fan support, the financial resources, and just the staff they’ve put together with Kevin Young, and then just his support staff as well… So I don’t see there being any reason why it can’t be sustainable.”

BYU’s NIL collective, The Royal Blue, has stood out as one of the most aggressive in the country. The collective has 875 donors from more than 30 different states who have provided support to more than 300 BYU student-athletes across 13 teams.

The school’s financial backing comes from wealthy entrepreneurs in the Salt Lake City area, nicknamed “Silicon Slopes” for its tech industry growth.

Has Kevin Young Already Proven BYU’s Investment Strategy Works?

BYU’s recent success under head coach Kevin Young has helped justify their aggressive NIL spending. In his first season, Young led the Cougars to their first Sweet 16 since 2011 and finished the season 26-10, including five ranked wins.

BYU finished the 2024-25 season far exceeding expectations. Projected to finish 10th in the Big 12’s preseason poll, the Cougars orchestrated one of the most fruitful campaigns in program history. Young became the first BYU coach since Roger Reid in 1990 to lead BYU to the Big Dance in his first year.

Still, the future of such high NIL investments remains unclear, especially as NCAA rules continue to evolve. According to CBS Sports, if you’re going to recruit top five-level players, you need to be able to rally millions of dollars to pay them moving forward. This reality has fundamentally changed college basketball recruiting.

No one knows what will happen in the future, but for now, BYU’s financial gamble appears to be paying off. They’ve proven that with the right combination of money, coaching, and development, any school can compete at the highest level.

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

• Kentucky baseball (30-25) will play Clemson in an elimination game in the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
• Kentucky is coming off a 7-3 win against USC Upstate, while Clemson lost to West Virginia 9-6.

Kentucky baseball has gone 1-1 at the Clemson Regional, and the Wildcats have another tough test today in the NCAA Tournament.

As conversations continue about the future of NCAA governance, the power conferences have taken center stage. Documents show the Autonomous Four are seeking more control, and the House v. NCAA settlement could also impact the power they have.

The Big 12 is on board with more authority for the P4, commissioner Brett Yormark said. He cited a need for a “shift” toward the top leagues when assessing what NCAA governance will look like.

Yormark expressed optimism about the current conversations about power conference control. That said, he also pointed out the importance of the NCAA while acknowledging the need for some more authority for the Power Four.

“I think generally speaking – and I do speak on behalf of my colleagues – there is an appetite and a desire to have a little bit more autonomy, a little bit more control in decision-making,” Yormark said in Orlando. “In what’s currently being discussed, I think we will land in a very desirable place.

“We understand the importance of being part of the institution and also being very collegial with our peers. But at the same time, we do feel that when it comes to control and autonomy, there needs to be a little bit of a shift for the A4 – at least, more so than currently exists. Those are the conversations that we’re having right now.”

One of the central issues to the authority that the Power Four has is the House v. NCAA settlement. The college sports world is still waiting for a ruling from Judge Claudia Wilken on approval of the landmark agreement, and documents show the NCAA is set to cede enforcement to the power conferences if it receives full approval.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey spoke earlier this week about what he wants to see out of a new governance model. He called for a Power 4 division within the NCAA, meaning the power conferences would be able to legislate independently while maintaining full autonomy and still competing for NCAA championships.

As for the NCAA’s role in governance talks, Brett Yormark praised the way Charlie Baker handled the discussions. He added that Baker realized the “modernization” that needs to take place with the power conferences leading the charge.

“Charlie Baker has been terrific throughout the process,” Yormark said. “He has listened to all the key stakeholder groups. But he does recognize that not everyone looks the same, operates the same and there needs to be a bit of an adjustment in the modernization of what’s being done there – the NCAA at a whole … but also as it relates to the Power Four.”