May 8th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Wednesday that versatile 6-9 forward Olivier Robinson Nkamhoua (pronounced: OH-liv-ee-AY RAH-bin-sin KAHM-wuh) has signed and submitted a National Letter of Intent and will enroll at UT as a freshman next month.


A native of Finland who transitioned to the United States in 2017 and attends Bishop Walsh School in Cumberland, Maryland, Robinson Nkamhoua joins a crop of newcomers that includes Davonte Gaines, Josiah-Jordan James and Drew Pember.


"Olivier is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential, and we're excited about his development once he arrives," Barnes said. "He comes from a great, high-character family—both in Finland and here in the U.S.—that has given him a solid foundation. He's received excellent coaching at the high school level and comes to us with an outstanding work ethic and eagerness to learn.


"He's a very athletic forward who has a level of versatility on both ends of the floor. He can play inside or on the perimeter, and he guards multiple positions defensively. He'll fit well into our defensive schemes. He can bring pressure, play up-tempo, understands good ball movement and is a strong communicator." 


According to 247Sports.com, Robinson Nkamhoua is rated as the No. 150 overall prospect in the Class of 2019 nationally.


He was sidelined with a leg injury for most of his junior year, which he spent at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Maryland. As a senior this spring at Bishop Walsh—where he was coached by Dan Prete—Robinson Nkamhoua helped lead the Spartans to a 20-win season. 


He played his AAU ball with the 6^th Man Sports program and also turned heads while competing in the 2018 Capitol Hoops Summer League at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. 


Robinson Nkamhoua's mother is from Finland, and his father hails from Cameroon. Robinson Nkamhoua competed for Finland (as a 6-4 point guard) in 2016 FIBA U16 European Championships divisional play. 


He will become the first Tennessee basketball player from Finland and just the second from Europe, joining rising junior wing Yves Pons from France.