Meet Tacko Fall, a young man who only began playing basketball last year. He might have a future in it.
One of the greatest defensive players of all time, Dikembe Mutumbo, came to the US from his native country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with only a few years basketball experience under his belt. But the 7’2″ centre was a quick learner and he rapidly became a college and NBA star.
Nigerian born Hakeem Olajuwon never played basketball until he was 15, but he is now in the NBA Hall of Fame as one of the most dominant big men ever to run onto the court.
Those are serious names to compare 18-year-old Tacko Fall to but the Senegal native could follow in those very big footsteps. Fall only began playing basketball this year so he needs time to put his enormous frame to best use but what a frame it is. Standing 7’5″ he is believed to be the tallest high school player in the US. His wingspan is eight feet and he wears the same size shoes as Shaquille O’Neal, according to Bleacher Report.
Playing for a school in Florida, Fall is considerably taller than all his opponents, as the video shows, but he has yet to fully take advantage of his anatomy.
Averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, he should be doing a lot better on all three metrics but if he can harness the body he has been given, his NBA potential is off the charts.
