Sadly, the NCAA held him hostage till they were exposed publicly how they had already approved the academic courses back in April.
As Marc Daniels said on his radio show just yesterday, one "anonymous" NCAA weasel was able to delay his approval for months and weeks...even though the NCAA had all the required info months ago.
Glad the NCAA Clearinghouse was finally exposed.
Bummer that Tacko missed practice the last week when UCF was prepping their game plan vs Davidson...but at least he will get PT from Day 1...as this kid who has only played organized hoops for 3 years needs as much PT as he can get.
Just saying... I don't remember the last time a 7'6" guy not named Yao Ming was any good at basketball. IMO, Tacko is likely going to be a stiff out there... a sideshow to sell tickets. Any really aggressive, strong PF or C should be able to abuse the guy.
Most guys who are taller than, say, 7'1" are generally goofy, haven't got amazing control of their bodies, are frail and injury-prone, and honestly, their hands are too big for the basketball. The kid from UNC-Asheville comes to mind.
My dad is a 7'0" former Wake Forest basketball player. Height isn't everything. There was a guy who played on that team with my dad named Rod Griffin...6'7" and built like a brick wall. He abused every 7+ footer he faced.
Best of luck to Tacko. Good that a seemingly good, smart (3.6 GPA) kid didn't get screwed by the NCAA. Will be interesting to see how he pans out!
Glad he was cleared, seemed like they were stalling for some reason. But I have no problem with them giving extra scrutiny for kids that are essentially semi-pro basketball players (National Basketball Academy of Senegal, to the USA for the purpose of playing basketball, etc.). I just wish they would make the policies known and transparent when enforcing them.
That said - interesting to see how he works out. Could definitely be a big impact and has a fast lane to the NBA if he is even respectable. But he is in for a whole knew level of competition, Liberty Christian Prep isn't exactly in a challenging conference.
(11-13-2015 11:11 AM)ECUGrad07 Wrote: Just saying... I don't remember the last time a 7'6" guy not named Yao Ming was any good at basketball. IMO, Tacko is likely going to be a stiff out there... a sideshow to sell tickets. Any really aggressive, strong PF or C should be able to abuse the guy.
Most guys who are taller than, say, 7'1" are generally goofy, haven't got amazing control of their bodies, are frail and injury-prone, and honestly, their hands are too big for the basketball. The kid from UNC-Asheville comes to mind.
My dad is a 7'0" former Wake Forest basketball player. Height isn't everything. There was a guy who played on that team with my dad named Rod Griffin...6'7" and built like a brick wall. He abused every 7+ footer he faced.
Best of luck to Tacko. Good that a seemingly good, smart (3.6 GPA) kid didn't get screwed by the NCAA. Will be interesting to see how he pans out!
Well, the pool of past 7' 6" basketball players is pretty dang small sample size.
Heck, in UCF's season home opener next wed night, it will be the first time TWO 7' 6" players will face another in a college game...as UCF plays Cal-Irvine, a NCAA Tourn team from last year,who has 7' 6" Mamadou Ndiaye (below), who is already a pretty good young college basketball player.
Also, don't confuse NBA success with college success...as there have been multiple good tall "college players" that just didn't pan out in the NBA game.
Unlike kids in the USA or Europe that have been playing basketball from an early age...Tacko has been only playing organized ball for about 3 years...so he is basically an infant in regards to years/actual experience of playing hoops...but he seems to be learning all the time...and in another year or two...will probably become a solid starter on UCF's team.
(This post was last modified: 11-13-2015 01:52 PM by KnightLight.)
(11-13-2015 11:29 AM)Stay Cool Wrote: Good for the kid, was getting a fair amount of national attention. Probably what swayed the decision
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No doubt many in the national media that noted what a farce of the delay the NCAA was trying to do certainly helped...but when the FL HS this week produced to the media and the world the letter that NCAA sent them back in APRIL that showed approval of their academic courses...that was the game changer...as the anonymous NCAA official that was causing the delay, couldn't do it anymore as the adults finally stepped in and made the decision over that twit.
(11-13-2015 11:11 AM)ECUGrad07 Wrote: Just saying... I don't remember the last time a 7'6" guy not named Yao Ming was any good at basketball. IMO, Tacko is likely going to be a stiff out there... a sideshow to sell tickets. Any really aggressive, strong PF or C should be able to abuse the guy.
Most guys who are taller than, say, 7'1" are generally goofy, haven't got amazing control of their bodies, are frail and injury-prone, and honestly, their hands are too big for the basketball. The kid from UNC-Asheville comes to mind.
My dad is a 7'0" former Wake Forest basketball player. Height isn't everything. There was a guy who played on that team with my dad named Rod Griffin...6'7" and built like a brick wall. He abused every 7+ footer he faced.
Best of luck to Tacko. Good that a seemingly good, smart (3.6 GPA) kid didn't get screwed by the NCAA. Will be interesting to see how he pans out!
Well, the pool of past 7' 6" basketball players is pretty dang small sample size.
Heck, in UCF's season home opener next wed night, it will be the first time TWO 7' 6" players will face another in a college game...as UCF plays Cal-Irvine, a NCAA Tourn team from last year,who has 7' 6" Mamadou Ndiaye, who is already a pretty good young college basketball player.
Also, don't confuse NBA success with college success...as there have been multiple good tall "college players" that just didn't pan out in the NBA game.
Unlike kids in the USA or Europe that have been playing basketball from an early age...Tacko has been only playing organized ball for about 3 years...so he is basically an infant in regards to years/actual experience of playing hoops...but he seems to be learning all the time...and in another year or two...will probably become a solid starter on UCF's team.
When I first saw the commit, I thought what ECUGrad07 does. However since then, I've seen clips of him and he looks surprisingly coordinated for his size. It will be interesting to see him play.
(11-13-2015 11:29 AM)Stay Cool Wrote: Good for the kid, was getting a fair amount of national attention. Probably what swayed the decision
Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
No doubt many in the national media that noted what a farce of the delay the NCAA was trying to do certainly helped...but when the FL HS this week produced to the media and the world the letter that NCAA sent them back in APRIL that showed approval of their academic courses...that was the game changer...as the anonymous NCAA official that was causing the delay, couldn't do it anymore as the adults finally stepped in and made the decision over that twit.
That guy should be fired. What was his reasoning of holding back. If you are approved it does not matter what the NCAA official thinks of the school or player he must approve him. Sounds like he had some bias for someone in the situation and with his job he should be fired for that.
(11-13-2015 11:11 AM)ECUGrad07 Wrote: Just saying... I don't remember the last time a 7'6" guy not named Yao Ming was any good at basketball. IMO, Tacko is likely going to be a stiff out there... a sideshow to sell tickets. Any really aggressive, strong PF or C should be able to abuse the guy.
Most guys who are taller than, say, 7'1" are generally goofy, haven't got amazing control of their bodies, are frail and injury-prone, and honestly, their hands are too big for the basketball. The kid from UNC-Asheville comes to mind.
My dad is a 7'0" former Wake Forest basketball player. Height isn't everything. There was a guy who played on that team with my dad named Rod Griffin...6'7" and built like a brick wall. He abused every 7+ footer he faced.
Best of luck to Tacko. Good that a seemingly good, smart (3.6 GPA) kid didn't get screwed by the NCAA. Will be interesting to see how he pans out!
Well, the pool of past 7' 6" basketball players is pretty dang small sample size.
Heck, in UCF's season home opener next wed night, it will be the first time TWO 7' 6" players will face another in a college game...as UCF plays Cal-Irvine, a NCAA Tourn team from last year,who has 7' 6" Mamadou Ndiaye, who is already a pretty good young college basketball player.
Also, don't confuse NBA success with college success...as there have been multiple good tall "college players" that just didn't pan out in the NBA game.
Unlike kids in the USA or Europe that have been playing basketball from an early age...Tacko has been only playing organized ball for about 3 years...so he is basically an infant in regards to years/actual experience of playing hoops...but he seems to be learning all the time...and in another year or two...will probably become a solid starter on UCF's team.
When I first saw the commit, I thought what ECUGrad07 does. However since then, I've seen clips of him and he looks surprisingly coordinated for his size. It will be interesting to see him play.
I watched the scrimmage a few weeks ago. I see why he got offers to schools like Georgetown. Once he settles into the college game he is going to be really good.
(11-13-2015 11:29 AM)Stay Cool Wrote: Good for the kid, was getting a fair amount of national attention. Probably what swayed the decision
Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
No doubt many in the national media that noted what a farce of the delay the NCAA was trying to do certainly helped...but when the FL HS this week produced to the media and the world the letter that NCAA sent them back in APRIL that showed approval of their academic courses...that was the game changer...as the anonymous NCAA official that was causing the delay, couldn't do it anymore as the adults finally stepped in and made the decision over that twit.
That guy should be fired. What was his reasoning of holding back. If you are approved it does not matter what the NCAA official thinks of the school or player he must approve him. Sounds like he had some bias for someone in the situation and with his job he should be fired for that.
Didnt take long for racist allegations to get lobbied around on twitter, not sure if there is any substance to the accusations though
(11-13-2015 11:11 AM)ECUGrad07 Wrote: Just saying... I don't remember the last time a 7'6" guy not named Yao Ming was any good at basketball. IMO, Tacko is likely going to be a stiff out there... a sideshow to sell tickets. Any really aggressive, strong PF or C should be able to abuse the guy.
Most guys who are taller than, say, 7'1" are generally goofy, haven't got amazing control of their bodies, are frail and injury-prone, and honestly, their hands are too big for the basketball. The kid from UNC-Asheville comes to mind.
My dad is a 7'0" former Wake Forest basketball player. Height isn't everything. There was a guy who played on that team with my dad named Rod Griffin...6'7" and built like a brick wall. He abused every 7+ footer he faced.
Best of luck to Tacko. Good that a seemingly good, smart (3.6 GPA) kid didn't get screwed by the NCAA. Will be interesting to see how he pans out!
Manute Bol wasn't that bad. He was about "7'7".
Mark Eaton was way up there too and he was alright.
(11-13-2015 11:29 AM)Stay Cool Wrote: Good for the kid, was getting a fair amount of national attention. Probably what swayed the decision
Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
No doubt many in the national media that noted what a farce of the delay the NCAA was trying to do certainly helped...but when the FL HS this week produced to the media and the world the letter that NCAA sent them back in APRIL that showed approval of their academic courses...that was the game changer...as the anonymous NCAA official that was causing the delay, couldn't do it anymore as the adults finally stepped in and made the decision over that twit.
That guy should be fired.
What was his reasoning of holding back.
If you are approved it does not matter what the NCAA official thinks of the school or player he must approve him. Sounds like he had some bias for someone in the situation and with his job he should be fired for that.
1) Yes
2) NCAA official never did have to state reason(s) why...as UCF would give them everything they asked for. His final written reason was for not accepting a few courses...even though the NCAA "approved" all of them back in April...something that NCAA investigator already knew...seemed like he/she just wanted to f-ck with UCF.
3) Incorrect. NCAA Clearinghouse, while many times is similar to college admissions, they basically don't have anything to do with one another.
Colleges, like UCF and many others, have accepted LCP HS kids for the past 20 plus years but for the NCAA, this was the first time a student athlete for LCP was going thru the NCAA Clearinghouse ringer...let alone that this student-athlete started his career in Africa (not the easiest to get records from).
That's why Tacko Fall was accepted into UCF's Engineering Program as a true Freshmen (not hard to do), but the NCAA Clearinghouse didn't even follow their own findings/decisions (i.e. like back in April when they approved LCP courses).
(11-13-2015 11:29 AM)Stay Cool Wrote: Good for the kid, was getting a fair amount of national attention. Probably what swayed the decision
Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
No doubt many in the national media that noted what a farce of the delay the NCAA was trying to do certainly helped...but when the FL HS this week produced to the media and the world the letter that NCAA sent them back in APRIL that showed approval of their academic courses...that was the game changer...as the anonymous NCAA official that was causing the delay, couldn't do it anymore as the adults finally stepped in and made the decision over that twit.
That guy should be fired. What was his reasoning of holding back. If you are approved it does not matter what the NCAA official thinks of the school or player he must approve him. Sounds like he had some bias for someone in the situation and with his job he should be fired for that.
Didnt take long for racist allegations to get lobbied around on twitter, not sure if there is any substance to the accusations though
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Everything is racist now days. So I doubt that specifically when most basketball recruits are black you would have to keep a lot of players out and that would be obvious. I could be wrong about it being a racist thing but I just fill like everything is about race now days can't everyone just get along and not care what skin color you are.
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