The inside story of Robert Bobroczky – the 7ft 7in 16-year-old future basketball star who is so tall he doesn’t look real
A SCHOOLBOY aged 16 could be about to take American basketball by storm, becoming the tallest player ever to play professionally in the US.
Romanian-born Robert Bobroczky stands at a jaw-dropping 7ft 7in, towering over his peers at Grand River Academy high school in the US state of Ohio, the reports.
His incredible size is what stands out, but those who know him say it is not the only thing that makes the 16-year-old unique.
Known as “Big Rob” at school, he gets top grades and is fluent in four different languages – Romanian, English, Hungarian and Italian.
“He’s obviously one of a kind,” said Bobby Bossman, the teenager’s coach at certified Olympic training facility Spire Institute.
“The kid’s work ethic is absolutely unbelievable. You ask him to do anything, and he’s going to do it.”
A few years ago, Bossman saw videos of Bobroczky and was immediately intrigued.
Even then, he stood at a towering 7ft 3in, and the coach could see limitless potential.
Bossman got in touch with him and his family over the phone and through Skype, and they set up a visit.
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Bobroczky comes from a basketball family.
His dad played on the Romanian national team with Gheorghe Muresan – the tallest player in NBA history at 7ft 7in.
But those who know reckon the teen – already the same size – could be set to eclipse his compatriot by making it to the big time.
After spending the past two years with Italian club Stella Azzurra, Bobroczky enrolled at Spire.
Bossman raves about the young man’s skills on the court but is keen to bring him along slowly, letting him get acquainted with his new surroundings and the speed of the game.
“We’ll use him every now and then,” Bossman said. “Next year, he’s going to be full go from the tip.”
Bossman said the plan is for Bobroczky to beef up to 98kg by then – at the moment, he’s a rail-thin 88kg.
His biggest challenge is getting up and down the floor at a good pace, adjusting to his absurdly long and gangly frame.
Bossman said: “I told him: ‘We want you to be comfortable, we want you to have fun and everything else will take care of itself’.”
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