(Editor’s note: Carroll College media release)
HELENA – Carroll College head basketball coach Kurt Paulson announced the signing of Finnish National U18 Team forward Eetu Villa to a Letter of Intent.
Villa brings length at 6-foot, 7-inches, a smooth shooting stroke and two years of national team basketball experience.
“The Carroll Men’s Basketball program is extremely excited to add some international flavor to our 2018 recruiting class coming from Finland,” Paulson said. “Eetu adds elite shooting range to our team and more athleticism with his height and 80-inch wingspan.”
He attends high school at Mäkelänrinteen Lukio (Mäkelänrinne Sports High) and plays for the Helsinki Basketball Academy.
He has a 43.1 percent three-point percentage for the HBA and has played 24 international games with the Finnish Junior National Team.
The Finnish U18 team finished 10th in the 2018 FIBA MU18 European Championship and in 2016 the U17 finished 12th in the FIBA MU17 2017 World Championship. It was the first World Cup Appearance for the Finnish basketball junior national team.
The HBA team finished second in the Men’s 1A Division.
“He will be a mismatch offensively for teams because he can post up and also stretch the defense from three,” Paulson added. “He has competed on the world stage for his country and gained valuable game experience playing for his national team. More importantly than his high basketball skill set is his character and toughness. The Carroll Crazies will love this special addition to the program.”
Villa also brings a basketball pedigree, his father played basketball in Finland’s highest pro league.
Academically, he carries a 3.5 GPA.
He is the second signing of the 2018 recruiting class for Saints Basketball. He joins Montana Gatorade Player of the Year Sam Beighle from Missoula Sentinel.
