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Tacko Fall could be more than his height, but that is the start

By Philip Rossman-Reich

FORT WORTH, TX - FEBRUARY 10: UCF Knights center Tacko Fall (#24) plays defense during the American Athletic Conference college basketball game between the UCF Knights and SMU Mustangs on February 10, 2019 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - FEBRUARY 10: UCF Knights center Tacko Fall (#24) plays defense during the American Athletic Conference college basketball game between the UCF Knights and SMU Mustangs on February 10, 2019 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Tacko Fall, UCF Knights
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 13: Tacko Fall #41 participates in drills during the afternoon session of Day Two of the NBA G League Elite Mini Camp on May 13, 2019 at the Quest Multisport Sports Training Facility in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Immeasurable height

Tacko Fall tested the NBA waters two years ago as a curiosity. How could anyone ignore a 7-foot-7 center? But he knew he was not ready then. He was looking for feedback to help himself improve.

He said he learned from NBA feedback he needed to increase his stamina so he could stay on the court longer, develop a more varied offensive game and become more disciplined defensively.

His senior year — injuries marred his junior year in 2018 — he started to show a lot of that development. Fall averaged 11.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. He shot 74.8 percent from the floor, his offense relegated mostly to putbacks and shots around the rim.

It was pretty easy for him to score when he could turn over his shoulder and shoot over every opponent. Fall is really tall if you have not heard.

But Fall was never a true lumbering big man like other players his size. He always had some athleticism and ability to move. He just needed a better understanding of how to move and where to be for his team.

By his senior year, he was a force, making defense easy for the entire Knights team. They were consistently one of the best defensive teams in the nation whenever Fall was on the floor.

Positioning mattered and that made the Knights one of the best defensive teams in the American. Fall knew he was not going to be able to beat most players to their spot and at least challenge their spot. His height and his NBA Draft Combine-record 8-foot-2.25 wingspan afforded him a lot of margin for error.

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Fall still has limitations as a player. He is not a supreme athlete and has virtually no range offensively. His post game is still rudimentary — but it does not have to be much because of his size.

In his big matchup with Zion Williamson of the Duke Blue Devils in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, he made himself stand out even more. True, Williamson was still a tour de force in the paint. Fall was not able to completely slow him down. But Fall’s presence kept everyone else out of the paint and gave the Knights a real chance to win that game.

If Fall had not fouled out, the Knights could have scored the upset. Or at least made the layup at the end of the game that would have secured the win.

Fall’s athleticism and mobility turned heads at the NBA Draft Combine. He took an invite from the G-League Elite Camp and got invited to stay for the full combine. There he was able to display what his size could do in scrimmages and drills.

It was hard not to turn away from Fall — he stands out in a crowd after all — and he stood out on the court.