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

Cameron Houindo (6’9″, 17 years old) recently launched 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 U16 EuroBasket 2024 before winning silver at the U18 EuroBasket 2025 (7.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 7 games played), competing one year up. 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 us with a complete analysis of his game.

[Player profile section HTML preserved]

An Already Intriguing Profile

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

As a U18 international this summer, he confirmed his ability to produce against older players and hold his own in the paint.

Above-Average Athlete

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 quick, very quick, which makes him valuable near the rim: he protects the basket on defense and hunts offensive rebounds on offense. He’s often found drawing 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 hold up against heavier big men but also against quicker players. In the paint, he imposes himself through his shot-blocking and deterrence.

He particularly excels in post defense: hard to back down or get around. However, he remains perfectible in pick-and-roll situations, an essential aspect at the high level, where his positioning and reading of the game still need to improve.

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, projects himself quickly forward 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 post, he attempts a lot but still converts too little. His outside shot is also a work in progress: his free throw and three-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.

[Image section preserved]

A Question 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 flaws, he already possesses a rare asset: he can impact a game just with his physicality and energy. Defensively, he’s a game-changer with his presence in the paint. Offensively, he impacts through his activity without the ball.

His trajectory reminds 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 to establish himself as a modern and complete big man, capable of making an impact both in Europe and at the international level.

[YouTube embed preserved][Author section preserved][Technical lexicon section preserved]