CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State head coach Wayne Tinkle and his staff announced Tuesday the addition of Olavi Suutela, who will join the team for the 2025-26 season.
Suutela is a 6-foot-10 forward from Helsinki, Finland
Olavi Suutela
Forward
6-foot-10
Freshman
Helsinki, Finland
Suutela has represented the Finland Youth National Teams at a number of different levels, ranging from under-15 to under-18. The forward has been called into training camp with the full national team, and was a U16 Finnish national champion. Suutela averaged 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.
“We’re excited to be adding another high-level player like Olavi to our squad,” said Oregon State head coach Wayne Tinkle. “He is a versatile player who can play multiple positions, and at 6-10 he reminds us of a taller Michael Rataj. Olavi is a tenacious rebounder and defender – he’s a potent scorer and we will give him the opportunity to develop his perimeter game as well. Olavi is a great kid from a great family, and we can’t wait to get him here.”
Suutela is playing club basketball for the Helsinki Basketball Academy. He is averaging 19.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game so far this season. Overall he has traveled to 15 different countries for basketball, and was named part of the FIBA U16 B Division All-Star Starting Five.
“I chose Oregon State because of the entire coaching staff’s approach to making their players not only better basketball players, but better people,” Suutela said. “Oregon State is a place that will help me and I will also be able to help everyone around me.”
The Beavers will be back in action Thursday when Oregon visits Gill Coliseum.
Suutela is a 6-foot-10 forward from Helsinki, Finland
Olavi Suutela
Forward
6-foot-10
Freshman
Helsinki, Finland
Suutela has represented the Finland Youth National Teams at a number of different levels, ranging from under-15 to under-18. The forward has been called into training camp with the full national team, and was a U16 Finnish national champion. Suutela averaged 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.
“We’re excited to be adding another high-level player like Olavi to our squad,” said Oregon State head coach Wayne Tinkle. “He is a versatile player who can play multiple positions, and at 6-10 he reminds us of a taller Michael Rataj. Olavi is a tenacious rebounder and defender – he’s a potent scorer and we will give him the opportunity to develop his perimeter game as well. Olavi is a great kid from a great family, and we can’t wait to get him here.”
Suutela is playing club basketball for the Helsinki Basketball Academy. He is averaging 19.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game so far this season. Overall he has traveled to 15 different countries for basketball, and was named part of the FIBA U16 B Division All-Star Starting Five.
“I chose Oregon State because of the entire coaching staff’s approach to making their players not only better basketball players, but better people,” Suutela said. “Oregon State is a place that will help me and I will also be able to help everyone around me.”
The Beavers will be back in action Thursday when Oregon visits Gill Coliseum.
