TWIN FALLS, Idaho - The College of Southern Idaho Men's Basketball program is excited to announce the signing of Emil Hirvonen, a 6-11 center from Tampere, Finland, for the 2025-26 season.
Hirvonen joins the Golden Eagles with high-level international experience and a versatile skill set that will help anchor CSI's frontcourt. A product of the prestigious Helsinki Basketball Academy, he most recently competed in Finland's top-tier league during the 2024-25 season. He also helped lead Tampereen Pyrintö to a U17 Finnish National Championship in 2022.
"We're really excited to welcome Emil to the program," said Head Coach Jeff Reinert. "Harrison Van Dyke led the way on this recruitment and did a fantastic job from start to finish. We were first introduced to Emil through Hanno Möttölä, the former University of Utah standout, and the more film we watched and conversations we had, the more it became clear, he's a perfect fit for what we're building. Emil is a versatile big who can stretch the floor and score inside, but what stands out most is his love for rebounding—that's music to my ears. He's just completed his mandatory military service in Finland and is now fully focused on getting back on the court. With all of our bigs from last season moving on to four-year programs, there's a tremendous opportunity for Emil and the rest of our frontcourt to make an immediate impact."
In addition to his club experience, Hirvonen has represented Finland at the U16 and U18 national team levels. While playing for his country, he was mentored by former NBA player and Finnish basketball legend Hanno Möttölä. Möttölä, a University of Utah alum, starred under legendary coach Rick Majerus and played in the 1998 NCAA National Championship game.
Hirvonen's international background, winning pedigree, and two-way versatility position him to be a major contributor as the Golden Eagles retool their frontcourt for the upcoming season.