Tennessee basketball signee Clarence Massamba has officially made it across the Atlantic Ocean and to Knoxville ahead of the start of the Vols’ fall semester. The 6-foot-5 French guard committed to Tennessee on the final day of April but didn’t make it to Knoxville for summer workouts as he wrapped up play with his pro-team in his home country of France.
bienvenue Clarence 🏡 pic.twitter.com/l7jpCxAWKo
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) August 17, 2025
Massamba spent last season playing for AC Monaco, a professional team in France. A 19-year old, Massamba played mostly on AC Monaco’s B team (U21) where he averaged 9.8 points on 45% shooting from the field and 34% shooting from three-point range. He added 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Before his professional season in France, played two seasons at The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida. The shooting guard averaged 13 points and five rebounds per game during the 2023-24 season with the Lions. Massamba was an efficient scorer, shooting 53% from the field and 42% from three-point range. He has the reputation of a good defender, averaging 1.5 steals per game while helping the Lions win the state championship.
Massamba is a plus athlete with a solid track record of shooting the ball. His highlight tapes show a guard who can play in ball screens while also effectively getting out and running in transition.
More From RTI: Tennessee Signee Ethan Burg Makes Israeli National Team Ahead Of FIBA European Championship
The long wing is one of two international signees in Tennessee’s 2025 recruiting class. He’s the penultimate player to arrive on campus with Israeli combo guard Ethan Burg making the Israeli national team and competing with his country in the FIBA EuroBasket Championships. Burg and Israel are guaranteed five games from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4 meaning the 22-year old won’t arrive in Knoxville until likely the middle of September.
Massamba is a bit of a project but will have a chance to compete for playing time at the shooting guard spot. Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie is locked in as Tennessee’s starting point guard while five-star freshman Nate Ament is locked in as the starting small forward.
A large contingent of players including Louisiana Tech shooting guard Amaree Abram, sophomore Bishop Boswell, freshmen Amari Evans and Troy Henderson, Massamba and Burg will compete for playing time at the two-spot this season. Sources told RTI that there was little separation amongst the four that were on campus this summer but that the veteran Abram was the most consistent of the bunch.
