Tennessee Basketball: Analyzing the 2019 recruiting class

Olivier Nkamhoua – Cumberland, MD

PF | 6-foot-8 | 210 lbs | No. 113 overall

Ranked just outside of the nation’s top-100, Olivier Nkamhoua is a prospect that many view as an immediate impact player at the college level. He has a college-ready frame and skyrocketed up the national rankings after returning from an injury. Originally from Finland, Nkamhoua jumped onto the radar late in the recruiting season and secured plenty of high-major offers as a result of his skill set. A multi-faceted offensive weapon, he can score in a variety of situations. Depending on the opponent’s defensive scheme, he can knock down the open 3-pointer, slash to the rim, or create for himself.

Defensively, he could use a little extra bulk before battling in the paint but should hold his own against most opposing players. He is quite quick and understands where he should be positioned. There is room for him to develop on both ends of the floor but he is already relatively polished with a bright future ahead. Considering the next player on this list has the potential to leave after just one season, Nkamhoua could emerge as the 2019 UT commit with the most impactful career.

With Grant Williams leaving this offseason, the Volunteers needed to find some extra help on the wing. Even though Nkamhoua is just a freshman, he could be one of those players to step in. Replacing Williams’ production as a two-time SEC Player of the Year will be nearly impossible and will have to be done by committee. Considering Nkamhoua’s steady rise over the past few months, we have definitely not seen his ceiling and I would expect that he is a part of the rotation as a freshman.