The University of Houston announced Michelle McLeod and Kingston Flemings as nominees for the 2025-26 Big 12 Athlete of the Year. The nominations were part of a scheduled rollout of candidates from the league's member institutions.
Michelle McLeod, a junior in swimming and diving, was named a female candidate. McLeod was a Big 12 champion in the platform event and was named the 2026 Big 12 Championship Diver of the Meet. She earned All-Big 12 First Team honors on platform and All-Big 12 Second Team recognition on the 1-meter and 3-meter events. Additionally, McLeod qualified for the NCAA Championships in all three diving events and was a five-time Big 12 Diver of the Week.
Kingston Flemings, a freshman in men's basketball, was named a male candidate. Flemings was selected as a consensus Second Team All-American and a member of the John R. Wooden Award All-America Team. During the 2025-26 season, he led Houston in scoring, assists, steals, field goals, and 3-point percentage. Flemings was also selected by the Atlanta Hawks as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Each institution nominated one male and one female athlete who competed during the 2025-26 school year. Eligible student-athletes were required to be in good academic standing and participate in a league-sponsored sport. The 16 full-member institutions that competed during that academic year were eligible for nomination.
The winners for the Big 12 Athlete of the Year awards were scheduled to be announced on Thursday, July 23. Other nominees from various schools included Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, and Colorado.
