Get to Know You: Touko Tainamo
Freshman forward Touko Tainamo is joining the Denver men's basketball team in 2021-22 following his international play in Finland. Tainamo brings size and physicality to the low block along with outside shooting touch.
 
Q&A with Tainamo
Why DU?
I liked the coaching staff a lot. All of them seemed good and enthusiastic people who really wanted to take this program to the next level. I also thought that the playing style coach Wulbrun told me about is well suited for me. The degree from DU is also highly valued which made my decision even easier.

What made you fall in love with the game of basketball?
When I went to school for the first time at the age of seven my classmate's dad asked me if I wanted to come to his practices. I think he asked me because I was the tallest kid in the class. We had a good group of friends and I liked the coach a lot. In time we became a good team with good players and people and I fell in love with the competition.

When did you know you could play at the Division I level?
When I played in the Finnish U18 national team in the 2019 FIBA U18 European championships tournament, I realized I could compete against the best players in Europe. After that I felt I could play in Division 1 level.
 
What is your favorite basketball moment?
My team won the U19 Finnish championship in 2018. We only lost one game in that season. We had a good team and it was great to play with and against older guys.
 
Have any of your family members played collegiate or professional sports and what team/position did they play?
No, they haven't. I'm the first athlete in my family.
 
Growing up playing basketball, who had the most influence on the development of your game?
My parents were the biggest reason I got to this level in basketball. They weren't coaching me or giving too much advice on basketball, but they were always supporting me and making my life as an athlete possible. Concerning basketball, I've always been surrounded with good coaches from my first coach to the coaches in HBA and DME.

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