Ayrton Oneill
The UCF Knights basketball team has had several exceptionally tall players in its history. One of the most notable is Tacko Fall, who stands at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 meters) tall. Fall played for the UCF Knights as a center and was the tallest high school basketball player in the nation when he committed to UCF. Another tall UCF Knights player is Mamadou N'Diaye, who stands at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 meters) as well. N'Diaye faced off against Fall in what was the tallest tip-off and match-up in US college basketball history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| UCF Basketball Player's Name | Tacko Fall |
| Height | 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 meters) |
| Height in Shoes | 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 meters) |
| Wingspan | 8 feet 2.25 inches (2.5 meters) |
| Standing Reach | 10 feet 2.5 inches (3.11 meters) |
| Nationality | Senegalese |
| Hometown | Dakar, Senegal |
| High School | Liberty Christian Preparatory School, Tavares, Florida |
| Major at UCF | Computer Science/Engineering |
| Jersey Number | 99 |
| NBA Teams | Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers |
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What You'll Learn
Tacko Fall: UCF's tallest player
El Hadji Tacko Sereigne Diop Fall, born on December 10, 1995, in Dakar, Senegal, is a former UCF Knights basketball player. Standing at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 metres) tall, Fall is one of the tallest living humans and was the tallest player in college basketball during his sophomore year.
Fall moved to the United States at the age of 16 and played his first organized basketball game in Houston, Texas, where he trained with NBA Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon. Before this, he had never played basketball. Fall was already over 7 feet tall and continued to grow, reaching 7 feet 6 inches by the time he arrived at UCF.
Fall's height and reach made him one of the most highly scouted high-school basketball centres in the nation. He attended Liberty Christian Preparatory School in Tavares, Florida, where he excelled academically and athletically. As a senior in 2015, he averaged 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 5.1 blocks per game, earning him a four-star and three-star recruit rating in the 2015 high-school class.
Fall chose to attend the University of Central Florida in Orlando, signing with them on October 28, 2014. He played centre for the UCF Knights under head coach Donnie Jones. During his time at UCF, Fall faced fellow Senegalese centre Mamadou N'Diaye, who stands at the same height of 7 feet 6 inches, in the tallest tip-off and match-up in U.S. college basketball history.
Fall's impressive height continued to benefit him as he pursued a career in the NBA.
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Fall's height in high school
Tacko Fall, a former UCF Knights basketball player, is one of the tallest basketball players in high school history. Standing at 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) tall at the age of 15, he went on to reach a height of 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) by the time he was in his senior year of high school, making him the tallest high school basketball player in the country. Fall's height and reach made him one of the most highly scouted high school basketball centers in the nation.
Fall's height continued to be a topic of interest throughout his basketball career. During the 2019 NBA Draft Combine, he set records for the tallest height in shoes at 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m), the longest wingspan at 8 ft 2.25 in (2.5 m), and the highest standing reach at 10 ft 2.5 in (3.11 m). The NBA now lists players' heights without shoes, so Fall is officially listed at 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m).
Fall's height has been noted as a significant advantage in the game of basketball, with his exceptional stature contributing to his success on the court. His height and skills made him a fan favorite during his time with the Boston Celtics and subsequently with other teams in the NBA.
While Fall's height is certainly remarkable, it is important to note that the height of high school basketball players can vary significantly. The height of high school basketball players is known to follow a normal distribution, with a standard deviation of 1.75 inches. This means that while there may be outliers like Tacko Fall, the majority of players will have heights that are closer to the average.
In conclusion, Tacko Fall's height in high school was an exceptional 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m), making him the tallest high school basketball player in the country at the time. His height continued to be a distinguishing factor throughout his basketball career, setting records at the NBA Draft Combine and contributing to his success on the court. While not all players will reach such extraordinary heights, the height of high school basketball players can vary, and taller players may have advantages in the game.
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Height of other UCF players
UCF basketball player Tacko Fall is 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 metres) tall. He is one of the tallest NBA players and one of the tallest living humans. Fall was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, and played college basketball for the UCF Knights.
Now, let's look at the heights of some other UCF basketball players:
Isaac Sauver
Isaac Sauver, a forward for the UCF Knights, stands at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 metres). He is originally from France and joined the Knights in 2021.
C.J. Walker
C.J. Walker is a guard for the UCF Knights and is 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 metres) tall. He joined the team in 2022 and is known for his strong defensive skills.
Darius Johnson
Standing at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres), Darius Johnson is a forward for the UCF Knights. He joined the team in 2020 and has been a valuable contributor with his versatile skill set.
Daron Henson
Daron Henson is a guard for the UCF Knights basketball team. He stands at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 metres) tall and is known for his quickness and shooting ability.
Tony Johnson Jr.
Tony Johnson Jr. is the son of former UCF player Tony Johnson Sr. He stands at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 metres) and plays the guard position for the Knights.
These players showcase the range of heights within the UCF basketball team, with Tacko Fall being an exceptionally tall player, standing out even among his tall teammates.
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Tallest tip-off in UCF history
The tallest tip-off in UCF history was between two giants of the game, Tacko Fall and Mamadou Ndiaye. Fall, a 7-foot-6-inch (2.29 m) center for the UCF Knights, faced off against University of California Irvine's 7-foot-6-inch (2.29 m) center, Mamadou Ndiaye, in a game on November 18, 2015. This matchup created the tallest tip-off and matchup in US college basketball history.
Fall, a native of Dakar, Senegal, moved to the United States at 16 years old and joined the UCF Knights basketball team. He became one of the most highly scouted high school basketball centers in the nation due to his height and reach. During his time at UCF, Fall improved his playing style and became an efficient player, ranking second nationally in field-goal percentage as of January 2017. He was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.
Fall's height is not just exceptional in the world of basketball but also in general; he is listed as one of the tallest living humans. His younger brother was also tall for his age, standing at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) at just seven years old. Fall's uncles are also notably tall, with two of them standing at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m).
Fall's height and skills on the court attracted the attention of the NBA. He went undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft but later signed with the Boston Celtics, playing for two seasons and becoming a fan favorite. He then signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent in 2021.
The UCF Knights and Tacko Fall created history with this record-breaking tip-off, showcasing the incredible heights and talents of these basketball players.
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Tallest players in college basketball
The tallest player in college basketball, as of 2025, is Olivier Rioux, a freshman forward at the University of Florida. Rioux stands at 7 feet 9 inches, and is the tallest player in Division 1 college basketball history. He previously held a Guinness World Record for the tallest teenager.
Tacko Fall, who played for the UCF Knights, is another extremely tall player. At 7 feet 6 inches, Fall was one of the tallest NBA players and is one of the tallest living humans. Fall was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, and moved to the United States at age 16. He quickly became one of the most highly scouted high school basketball players in the nation due to his height and reach. Fall played college basketball for the UCF Knights and became a fan favorite.
Fall faced fellow Senegalese center Mamadou N'Diaye, who stands at 7 feet 6 inches, in the tallest tip-off and match-up in US college basketball history. N'Diaye, who is from the same city as Fall, was already an NBA player when they faced each other.
Other tall college basketball players include Matt Van Komen (7 feet 4 inches or taller) and Kenny George (7 feet 7 inches).
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Frequently asked questions
Tacko Fall, a former UCF basketball player, is 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 metres) tall. He is considered one of the tallest living humans.
Tacko Fall, at 7 feet 6 inches tall, is the tallest UCF basketball player in history.
Tacko Fall was "only" 7 feet 2 inches tall when he joined UCF.
Tacko Fall was already over 7 feet tall when he first started playing basketball at 16 years old.
While Tacko Fall is one of the tallest NBA players in history, the title of the tallest NBA player ever goes to Sudanese-born British basketball player Manute Bol, who stood at 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m) tall.
