Every time Tennessee gets a commitment in either football or men’s basketball, we will write up an impact report looking at what that recruit does well, what he needs to improve in his game, and what his projected impact with the Vols could be over the next few years.
Latest Commit: Olivier Robinson-Nkamhoua, Power Forward
Height/Weight: 6-foot-8, 210 pounds
School: Bishop Walsh School (Maryland)
Home Town: Helsinki, Finland
Rankings
247Sports Composite: No. 110 overall, No. 18 PF
247Sports: No. 153 overall, No. 24 PF
Rivals: No. 150 overall
Notable Offers: Illinois, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Minnesota, Wake Forest
What we like:
Versatility and athleticism. That’s been a huge focus for Rick Barnes and his staff in their most recent commits and targets in recruiting, and Robinson-Nkamhoua fits that perfectly. When he’s healthy, he’s capable of playing multiple positions. He was once a 6-foot-4 guard, so he has the shooting ability and ball-handling skills of a guard in a forward’s body. He can hit the outside shot well, but he’s a very effective rebounder, too. He doesn’t quite have the size to bang down low with some of the more physical and bigger post players in the SEC, but he’s certainly gifted. He has a seven-foot wingspan, so his length is a major asset. Defensively, he has the kind of mentality that Barnes and his staff like. He’s a physical defender who blocks a lot of shots, and he can guard multiple positions thanks to his blend of size and quickness.
Areas to improve:
While it looks like he’s healthy now, Robinson-Nkamhoua broke his leg back in 2017 and missed a lot of time due to that. It doesn’t look like there are really any lingering issues there, but that will be something to keep an eye on. Also, Robinson-Nkamhoua doesn’t have the size needed to likely contribute right away. The Vols probably don’t need him to be a big factor in his first year on campus, but injuries can always disrupt a roster. Tennessee looks like they could be thin in the front court in the 2019-20 season, so Robinson-Nkamhoua could be an injury away from playing more significant minutes. He may not be ready to do that just yet until he can have a couple years in UT’s strength and conditioning program.
Analysis:
Olivier Robinson-Nkamhoua has a ton of upside. He looks exactly like the type of recruit that Rick Barnes likes to mold and develop. I don’t want to place the expectations on him of what Grant Williams or Admiral Schofield achieved while at UT, but Robinson-Nkamhoua has a great deal of potential and could develop into a match-up nightmare in a year or two. He’s a dedicated worker and fought back from an ugly injury to average 17 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game at Bishop Walsh School in Maryland in his senior season. I like a lot of what he brings to the table, but I don’t expect him to be a major contributor until his second or third season on campus. He could prove me wrong, though.
