Kevin Houston

Kevin Houston (born c. 1964) is a former American basketball player who is best known for leading NCAA Division I in scoring during his senior season at Army in 1986–87.[1] He averaged 32.9 points per game in 29 games played and set still-standing school records for points in a single game (53) and season (953).[1][2]

Houston was raised in Pearl River, New York and was a three-year starter on the varsity basketball team at Pearl River High School.[3] He was a diminutive 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), 165 lbs. in his prime during college, so as a high school player was even smaller.[3] His small stature played a big role in why he was overlooked by college scouts.[4]

Houston decided to attend the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School in New Jersey for one year after high school.[4] The United States Military Academy (Army), located in his home state of New York, was the only university that had shown Houston any interest during his basketball recruitment.[3] He enrolled at Army in the fall of 1983 to play for the Black Knights.[3] During his four-year career, Houston started every single one of the 113 games he played in, which ties him for the most all-time games played in Army history.[1] By the time he graduated from the Academy in 1987, he had re-written the school's record book. Houston scored still-standing program records for points in a game (53), season (953), career (2,325), and season points per game (32.9) among others.[1] He was the first ever Army player to be named the Haggerty Award winner, an honor that he shared as a senior with St. John's Mark Jackson, which is given to the best men's basketball player in the greater New York City metropolitan area.[1] Houston was also the 1986–87 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year and the NCAA season scoring champion.[5] He was a three-time All-MAAC honoree, two-time honorable mention All-American and one-time third team All-American.[1]

After college, Houston served his mandatory stint in the United States Army for several years.[3] He got into high school coaching and guided the Storm King School, located in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, to two New England Private School Championships in just seven years.[3] One of his players was future NBA Draft pick Sammy Mejia.[3] Kevin was married to his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth Cuccia, for 21 years before she died on January 3, 2009. They have three children: Lauren, Luke and Leanne.[3]