Egi Gjikondi, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward from San Jacinto Community College, pledged to Houston Tuesday.
Gjikondi, who averaged 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds last season, also considered Loyola Chicago, Oral Roberts, Jacksonville and Tennessee State.
He will have three years of eligibility going forward.
“I picked University of Houston because I thought it was the best for me personally,” he told SNY.tv. “After meeting with the coaching staff and coach [Kelvin] Sampson I felt comfortable to where the program is headed.
“I will be playing in and out as a stretch four. I enjoyed my visit and the University of Houston has a great atmosphere. I really like the idea of the style they are going to be playing but most importantly how they are going to develop me in the next three years.”
A Massachusetts native, Gjikondi played for Tyron Boswell of Expressions Elite.
“He will bring his toughness, along with his ability to score in the low post as well as his will to win,” Boswell said. “Egi has sacrificed an awful lot within the last few years. He deserves everything he has worked for. He is one of the most humble kids I have ever encountered.”
He is the fifth recruit for Sampson, joining forward JC Washington and junior college shooting guards Torian Graham, Chuck Baker and Eric Weary.
Former Purdue guard Ronnie Johnson becomes eligible in 2015-16.
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