Tacko Fall 7-6, 300lbs / 8'-4" wingspan / 10'-5" standing reach

[scrabbarista]

The NBA is so much more cautious with these guys today, I fully expect this guys minutes would always be managed.

I think if he was a 20 minute a game guy for 7 or 8 years he's still worth it because I think he would be highly productive in his minutes.

I wouldn't assume his time would be managed. The more productive he became, the more tempting it would be to play him more. If you draft him expecting 20 minutes a game for 7-8 years (say, after his junior year), I agree that that's fairly reasonable to constitute success for Tacko.

The Shaq thing is a bit of a straw man. Players get injured because they ask their bodies to do more than they're capable of doing, not because they're big or small. Size is one factor, but so are body structure, athleticism, fitness regimen, and workload. Shaq was an otherworldly athlete. Tacko Fall is not.

Being more athletic like Shaq puts more stress on joints and ligaments.

Ohhhhh! That explains why Lebron is always injured! Thank you for making it all clear to me!

[12footrim]

I wouldn't assume his time would be managed. The more productive he became, the more tempting it would be to play him more. If you draft him expecting 20 minutes a game for 7-8 years (say, after his junior year), I agree that that's fairly reasonable to constitute success for Tacko.

The Shaq thing is a bit of a straw man. Players get injured because they ask their bodies to do more than they're capable of doing, not because they're big or small. Size is one factor, but so are body structure, athleticism, fitness regimen, and workload. Shaq was an otherworldly athlete. Tacko Fall is not.

Being more athletic like Shaq puts more stress on joints and ligaments.

Ohhhhh! That explains why Lebron is always injured! Thank you for making it all clear to me!

Lebron isn't carrying 350lbs around either.

[scrabbarista]

Being more athletic like Shaq puts more stress on joints and ligaments.

Ohhhhh! That explains why Lebron is always injured! Thank you for making it all clear to me!

Lebron isn't carrying 350lbs around either.

But you are definitely making everything clear for me. Thank you so much. I always wondered why Shaq got hurt so much more than Yao. Now I finally know: Shaq was too athletic. Please teach me more.

[12footrim]

Ohhhhh! That explains why Lebron is always injured! Thank you for making it all clear to me!

Lebron isn't carrying 350lbs around either.

But you are definitely making everything clear for me. Thank you so much. I always wondered why Shaq got hurt so much more than Yao. Now I finally know: Shaq was too athletic. Please teach me more.

It's basically genetics at the end of the day. Sure the mass you carry and stress you put on your joints (along with some luck) affects them but it affects them differently for many guys. You can pick and choose all you want, some guys are just more durable regardless of size. I can find you multiple examples of 6' 180lb guys that can't stay healthy and on the other side super 7-4 280lb bigs like Mark Eaton that were iron men that played 30 minutes a game and rarely missed one and played until they were 37 years old if you want to play the comparison one off example game.

The fact is there is nothing in Tacko's history to suggest he has been injury prone at this point and he's playing about 30 minutes a game and he deserves the benefit of doubt. He could just as easily be another Mark Eaton in the health cat as Yao and it really has nothing to do with size.

[Nazrmohamed]

I cant say Ive seen him at all except for the videos y'all just posted. I don't think we're looking at a really skilled player here. I think he look spoiled by his height at this level. Look, all his post game is a series of gathering, then pump faking until he can get a dunk or standing layup over extended arms. Not saying he couldn't be developed but he's 21 yrs old already and I wouldn't even say he's as skilled as a guy like Hibbert. In a league where everything is whipping around him I could easily see him getting lost on some teams bench. But he'll get drafted for sure on sheer size alone. Id draft him in the second round as a low risk move and have my trainers go at him.

[Statlanta]

I've seen him in real life and he looks like a tree when he falls down. I think it's up in the air to say he gets drafted because he's so raw and the perimeter/passing game of the league has advanced so much. He does appear to be at least as good as N'Diaye when he 1st came in to the team.

[12footrim]

I cant say Ive seen him at all except for the videos y'all just posted. I don't think we're looking at a really skilled player here. I think he look spoiled by his height at this level. Look, all his post game is a series of gathering, then pump faking until he can get a dunk or standing layup over extended arms.

Why would you need or want him to be doing skilled post ups or hook shots when he can dunk without even jumping or lay the ball in coming down not up no less? That's an incredible skill as it gets on any level no other player has or will ever have. NBA players will not have answers for that anymore than college kids. If you can dunk without jumping that game changing. All you really have to do is get close and catch the ball at that point which he's solid at as well.

Not saying he couldn't be developed but he's 21 yrs old already

I've read he's also still growing and expected to be 7-7 when he's finished.

and I wouldn't even say he's as skilled as a guy like Hibbert. In a league where everything is whipping around him I could easily see him getting lost on some teams bench.

Hibbert was an All Star just a few seasons ago shooting like 45% in this league. There is no way on earth this guy will ever shoot 45% IMO and he can have the same sort of defensive impact

But he'll get drafted for sure on sheer size alone. Id draft him in the second round as a low risk move and have my trainers go at him.

I wouldn't let him get base the mid first round IMO. If he did become and all star there are lots of GM's that would get heat for the obviousness of missing on a guy that huge. I think it's already low risk to take him later 1st round because you can sell to fans and the owner it as he's just that different and potentially game changing. You don't take him and he hits it big and you got to answer even more questions IMO.

[Nazrmohamed]

I cant say Ive seen him at all except for the videos y'all just posted. I don't think we're looking at a really skilled player here. I think he look spoiled by his height at this level. Look, all his post game is a series of gathering, then pump faking until he can get a dunk or standing layup over extended arms.

Why would you need or want him to be doing skilled post ups or hook shots when he can dunk without even jumping or lay the ball in coming down not up no less? That's an incredible skill as it gets on any level no other player has or will ever have. NBA players will not have answers for that anymore than college kids. If you can dunk without jumping that game changing. All you really have to do is get close and catch the ball at that point which he's solid at as well.

Not saying he couldn't be developed but he's 21 yrs old already

I've read he's also still growing and expected to be 7-7 when he's finished.

and I wouldn't even say he's as skilled as a guy like Hibbert. In a league where everything is whipping around him I could easily see him getting lost on some teams bench.

Hibbert was an All Star just a few seasons ago shooting like 45% in this league. There is no way on earth this guy will ever shoot 45% IMO and he can have the same sort of defensive impact

But he'll get drafted for sure on sheer size alone. Id draft him in the second round as a low risk move and have my trainers go at him.

I wouldn't let him get base the mid first round IMO. If he did become and all star there are lots of GM's that would get heat for the obviousness of missing on a guy that huge. I think it's already low risk to take him later 1st round because you can sell to fans and the owner it as he's just that different and potentially game changing. You don't take him and he hits it big and you got to answer even more questions IMO.

Well as to my point because at the nba level guys are gonna be just bigger and quicker at C. For this level perhaps you're right but the only reason we're having this conversation is as it relates to his nba potential. As I believe I said, he'll probably get drafted because of the things you wrote but so did Hasheem Thabeet and at the college level I saw more outta him. Never said he cant develop skills, just meant that he needs to. Remember, at the nba level refs are way more strict with time in the paint and its a perimeter oriented league. So no, its not enough to simply be able to just stand there and at that height think everythings gonna come to you. Height is great when all anyone does is stand still and wait for the ball to come to them. Guys with lower centers of gravity are gonna work him down low. The hieght definitley presents an advantage but you need moves to take advantage of that height.

[12footrim]

Well as to my point because at the nba level guys are gonna be just bigger and quicker at C.

I'll agree with bigger part of it and better if you want to add that, but the guys he is facing in college are probably as quick or quicker themselves just as result of being smaller younger/closer to their athletic peaks etc. That hasn't really affect him, if anything he just goes over them much in the same way he probably will of NBA teams try to go small on him. He'd dunk over Trevor Booker or Milsap just as easily if he got the ball close and was being guarded by him for some stupid reason.

He also gets doubled and triple teamed every night he will not have to deal with in the NBA. There are plenty of NBA bigs in rotations he would be fine against. Hibbert, Tyler Zeller, Asik/Ajincia, Pachulia, Mosgov etc. There are guys like this on every team you could find minutes to play him against.

but so did Hasheem Thabeet and at the college level I saw more outta him.

When Tacko holds his arms up they go a foot higher than Thabeets did. There has litterly never been a guy with this size. Heck they would go almost as much over Yao or Bradley.

Never said he cant develop skills, just meant that he needs to. Remember, at the nba level refs are way more strict with time in the paint and its a perimeter oriented league.

Actually they shoot more three's in college and play smaller lineups. Lot of college centers shoot three's just because it's a good bit closer and many in general are going to be smaller in the 6-9ish range and more likely able to shoot an effective shot.

[doordoor123]

Well as to my point because at the nba level guys are gonna be just bigger and quicker at C.

I'll agree with bigger part of it and better if you want to add that, but the guys he is facing in college are probably as quick or quicker themselves just as result of being smaller younger/closer to their athletic peaks etc. That hasn't really affect him, if anything he just goes over them much in the same way he probably will of NBA teams try to go small on him. He'd dunk over Trevor Booker or Milsap just as easily if he got the ball close and was being guarded by him for some stupid reason.

He also gets doubled and triple teamed every night he will not have to deal with in the NBA. There are plenty of NBA bigs in rotations he would be fine against. Hibbert, Tyler Zeller, Asik/Ajincia, Pachulia, Mosgov etc. There are guys like this on every team you could find minutes to play him against.

but so did Hasheem Thabeet and at the college level I saw more outta him.

When Tacko holds his arms up they go a foot higher than Thabeets did. There has litterly never been a guy with this size. Heck they would go almost as much over Yao or Bradley.

Never said he cant develop skills, just meant that he needs to. Remember, at the nba level refs are way more strict with time in the paint and its a perimeter oriented league.

Actually they shoot more three's in college and play smaller lineups. Lot of college centers shoot three's just because it's a good bit closer and many in general are going to be smaller in the 6-9ish range and more likely able to shoot an effective shot.

He's quick enough to get up and down the court for his size. He also has a nice arc to his shot. And he's apparently a genius. I would take a shot at him.

[12footrim]

USA today article said 8-4" wingspan

[12footrim]

LOL

Good article on him from ESPN

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/18473661/ucf-knights-tacko-fall-road-relevancy

Few more things I learned

-didn't start playing basketball until 4 years ago

-"mastered english" in 8 months

-scored in the 95th percentile on the SAT

[madmaxmedia]

What I want to know is, where is #55 on draft boards?

[treefi]

Could someday develop into a Boban type player if he stays healthy.

[LuessiT]

Could someday develop into a Boban type player if he stays healthy.

Well, Boban is small,
compared to Fall

[OrlChamps2030]

Interesting prospect to the say the least.

He is supposed to quite intelligent and entered UCF with plans of being an engineering major as well.

[Gam]

Any word on if this dude is considering declaring? I think it would be a mistake for a guy as raw as him to wait another year, NBA coaches want to get their hands on raw guys as young as possible. Especially for a guy like him to is reported to take school very seriously, that's a lot of time spent in a classroom that could be spent in a gym.

[LuessiT]

Any word on if this dude is considering declaring? I think it would be a mistake for a guy as raw as him to wait another year, NBA coaches want to get their hands on raw guys as young as possible. Especially for a guy like him to is reported to take school very seriously, that's a lot of time spent in a classroom that could be spent in a gym.

He declared, not sure if he hired an agent.

[EvanZ]

Not sure I believe those measurements. He doesn't look longer to me than Bamba who has a 7'9" wingspan.

[Gam]

Any word on if this dude is considering declaring? I think it would be a mistake for a guy as raw as him to wait another year, NBA coaches want to get their hands on raw guys as young as possible. Especially for a guy like him to is reported to take school very seriously, that's a lot of time spent in a classroom that could be spent in a gym.

He declared, not sure if he hired an agent.

Would be pretty intrigued to see us take him in the 2nd, we know Hammy loves length.