Scouting Report – Houindo, the explosive big man making his debut with Cedevita Olimpija

Cameron Houindo (6’9″, 17 years old) recently started his professional career with Croatian-Slovenian club KK Cedevita Olimpija, where he took the spot of his compatriot Joan Beringer, who was recently drafted to the NBA.

Developed in Northern France before joining the French National Training Center, this powerful and athletic big man notably earned MVP honors at the 2024 U16 EuroBasket before winning silver at the 2025 U18 EuroBasket (7.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 7 games), playing up an age group. Graduating early from the national training center, he won’t be eligible for the NBA Draft until 2027. Scouting specialist Pierre Bouthors from PIRB Scouting provides a complete analysis of his game.

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An intriguing profile already

Born January 10, 2008 and already solidly built at 6’9″, Houindo stands out as one of the great prospects of the 2008 generation. Last season in NM1, with the French National Team Training Center, he averaged just over 8 points and 3 rebounds in about 20 minutes. Modest raw statistics that hide a much more important role than appears: that of an interior player with rare athletic potential, already physically ready to compete against adults.

Playing for the U18 national team this summer, he confirmed his ability to produce against older players and hold his own in the paint.

Above average athleticism

With Houindo, his physical attributes immediately catch the eye. Dense, powerful, able to absorb contact, he particularly stands out for his verticality and explosiveness. He gets up quickly, very quickly, which makes him valuable near the rim: he protects the basket on defense and hunts offensive rebounds on offense. He often draws fouls, proof of his aggressiveness and willingness to initiate contact.

In short, he already has the body and energy of a high-level player.

Clear defensive impact

Even if everything isn’t yet mastered, his defensive impact is a real calling card. His mobility allows him to defend against heavier post players but also against quicker players. In the paint, he imposes himself with his shot-blocking ability and deterrence.

He particularly excels in low post defense: it’s difficult to back him down or get around him. However, he still needs improvement in pick and roll situations, an essential aspect at the high level, where his positioning and game reading need to progress.

Offense under construction

It’s on the offensive end where the room for growth is greatest. Houindo is very effective when playing without the ball: he works the floor, runs the court quickly and knows how to make himself available to finish near the rim. However, when it comes to creating his own shot, limitations appear.

In the low post, he attempts a lot but still converts too little. His outside shot is also a work in progress: his free throw and 3-point percentages show he still needs to work on his form and consistency.

If he manages to develop a real outside threat, Houindo could transform into what’s called a « stretch 4 »: a modern power forward capable of spacing the floor and punishing from distance.

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A matter of discipline

Another key area for improvement: discipline. His intensity is a strength, but it often leads him to commit too many fouls. Result: reduced playing time and limited impact. Learning to manage this aggressiveness without losing his intensity will be a necessary step.

And tomorrow?

What makes Houindo so interesting is that despite his current shortcomings, he already possesses a rare asset: he can impact a game just with his physical tools and energy. Defensively, he’s a game-changer with his presence in the paint. Offensively, he makes his presence felt through his activity without the ball.

His trajectory reminds one of Brandon Clarke (Memphis Grizzlies), an athletic, explosive big man useful on both ends of the floor. Like Clarke in his early days, Houindo will need to expand his offensive arsenal and polish his defensive reads to take the next step.

The verdict

At 17, Houindo is still far from a finished product. But his physical profile and early impact already make him a prospect to watch very closely. If his shooting and defensive discipline improve, he has everything needed to establish himself as a modern and complete big man, capable of making an impact both in Europe and at the international level.

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About the author – Pierre Bouthors (PIRB SCOUTING)

Pierre Bouthors, founder of PIRB SCOUTING (created in 2023), is a scouting specialist working with NCAA, several European professional clubs and national teams.
His expertise in sports performance and data analysis puts technology and game knowledge at the service of players and clubs.

📖 Technical terms glossary

• PPP (Points Per Possession): average points scored or allowed by a team/player per possession. It’s an efficiency indicator: higher is better on offense; lower is better on defense.
• Defensive Rating: number of points allowed by the team per 100 possessions when the player is on the court. Lower number means better defensive impact.
• Net Rating: difference between Offensive Rating (points scored per 100 possessions) and Defensive Rating (points allowed). A positive Net Rating = favorable overall impact.
• Usage Rate (USG%): percentage of possessions ended by a player (shot, turnover, free throws) when on the court. Higher percentage means more offensive involvement.
• Plus/Minus: difference between points scored and allowed by the team when the player is on the court. It’s an indicator of collective impact, but heavily depends on context (teammates, opponents, rotations).
• Stretch 4: modern power forward capable of spacing to behind the three-point line to stretch the defense and create spaces.