Mamadou Ndiaye, 7-foot-5 high school basketball player

(CBS) - In the world of sports, stars are usually born not made. Some players come to play with natural gifts that their competitors just can't match. In the world of high school basketball, no one is as gifted as Mamadou Ndiaye. The 17-year-old junior stands tall at 7-feet-5-inches, easily the tallest basketball player in the country - professional or otherwise.

The towering Ndiaye hails from Senegal, where he was discovered by scouts in 2010. Even though he is two inches taller than even the largest NBA players, Ndiaye plays for a small, private school in California - the Huntington Beach Brethren Christian School.

"Right now his game is basically catch, turn, drop-step, dunk," says coach Jon Bahnsen. "But this kid's going to play professionally someday. The minute Mamadou enrolled I became a much better basketball coach."

At his young age, Ndiaye is still developing. But even with his raw skillset, he averages 22.9 points and 13.2 rebounds a game. At his height, the 17-year-old is basically impossible to defend.

It is equally impossible for a high schooler that large to stay under the radar, and Ndiaye has reportedly been approached by Guiness World Records to determine if he is officially the tallest high school basketball player in the world.

The story of how a lanky Senegalese kid came to play ball in California is a murky one. Ndiaye is at his second high school in two years. The first, Simi Valley Stoneridge Prep, helped Ndiaye get a student visa as well as a physical exam, which discovered he had a large tumor in his pituitary gland. The disorder may account for his oversized growth, but could also lead to complications including blindness.

The school was unable to afford treatment for Ndiaye's condition. But a charity drive was able to amass the needed funds, and a married couple who lives near Brethren Christian became Ndiaye's legal guardians.

The family has remained unnamed, and according to coach Bahnsen, their only goal is for Ndiaye to have the life of a normal high schooler. When he's not imposing his will on the court, Ndiaye can be seen riding his oversized bike around town, and reportedly has become a big fan of Chinese food.

[riodbrown68]

He is that tall because of a health issue and may have further complications. That's sad. That being said, he is also having everything just handed to him based on the fact that he is so tall. I am a single mom and I have a 6'10" 16 year old that is just that tall without having had any health reasons/diseases that caused his growth/height. He is still growing and plays football, basketball and baseball. I hope that he is fortunate enough to get a college opportunity so that he can get a good education. He is not in the news because of his height and nobody is handing him an education.

[Aceduece]

And how does anyone know that he is having everything handed to him. Yes, he is very tall but how do you know that he is not a hard working young man trying to make the best out of his height? I say good for him that he is taking advantage of his situation.

[routan1]

Just think, RIO, if your kid was seven inches taller and from Senegal, maybe this article would be about him.

[SheerFlea787]

How do you share this to Facebook?

[RonWillison]

Copy and paste the address above into your "Whats on your mind box."

[alexemboodo]

That is crazy. Its got to be tough for him. I wonder if he will play in college first.


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[alexemboodo]

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[wizardlady]

TIME TO CHANGE THE RULES OF THE HEIGHT OF THE BASKETBALL GOAL, OR HAVE HEIGHT OF PLAYERS WITHIN SIX INCHES OF EACH OTHER, REGARDLESS OF PARTICULAR HEIGHT.

Ever heard of level playing field.

[shedhouserob]

I say lower the basket to 4 feet and dunk shots count for 1 point

[bigtiny99]

i feel sorry for him

[jointheband]

yeah .people are going to make him out to be some kind of freak it's just human nature it seems(poor taste)but human nature just the same.

[StPetePaul]

When he starts pulling down 5 million a year will you feel sorry for him. Look at it this way he was probably a poor villager in Senagal and this was a blessing to him and his family. I say use what god gave you!

[rwsmith29456]

Being tall makes him gifted? Maybe it's time the height of the goal was raised to about 12-14 feet.

[RonWillison]

That still wouldn't even things up but on the other hand. Sports are meant to teach people how to overcome adversity as well as point out that things in life are not always fair.