[Cider Jim]

Even Christians want to see what Goliath (aka, 7'7" Kenny George) looks like.

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs ... 5/-1/State

Tallest player still has a lot to reach for


Asheville | In a part of North Carolina where jagged peaks are taken for granted, a mountain of a man inspires curiosity and wonder.

Kenny George, a redshirt sophomore center for UNC-Asheville, is the tallest player in college basketball this season and one of the tallest ever. George stands 7-foot-7 and weighs 365 pounds.

Seriously.

George is blot-out-the-sun enormous, from his head that nearly touches the bottom of the net to his size 25 shoes.

As a basketball player, George has fine potential and major problems. "I'm not great or anything - I'm just trying to find a groove," he said.

Sometimes, he finds it. He can dunk a basketball flat-footed. George blocked seven shots in 14 minutes, grabbed seven rebounds and dunked four times Saturday against Liberty.

"He's one of the biggest human beings I've ever seen," said Coastal Carolina coach Buzz Peterson. "Remember when you had a Nerf goal hanging on your door as a kid? When George gets the ball near the basket, he looks like a kid dunking a Nerf ball into a Nerf goal."

But it can be painful watching George shuffle downcourt. He can't keep up with a fast-paced game. He doesn't start for UNCA and plays a few minutes at a time before getting winded George also has a history of knee injuries. If he is to make the NBA like 7-7 players Manute Bol or Gheorghe Muresan once did, he must dramatically improve.

"The only question on Kenny George is his health," said UNCA coach Eddie Biedenbach, who lured George from Chicago and is patiently trying to mold him into a big-time force at his small school. "Back, knees, feet-so many things can be problems for big men."

Biedenbach would know. He understands the frustrations and flourishes that a big man provides for a basketball team, having played with Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA, recruited Tommy Burleson to N.C. State and coached a half-dozen 7-footers at UNCA.

George is a work in progress. His growth accelerated because of an overactive pituitary gland. He has played little basketball since his senior year in high school, when he suffered the first of two dislocated kneecaps.

But when he gets on the court, he sometimes changes the game. He blocked five shots against Virginia, including three in a 10-second span.

When asked to account for the jeers he heard in basketball arenas, Chamberlain once said, "Nobody loves Goliath." Perhaps because George is so raw and unknown, however, the stands generally hum with anticipation when he checks in.

"In Louisville when he went into the game," Biedenbach said, "it was like Babe Ruth coming to bat."

[WinthropEagleFan]

It's hard not to root for the guy...Being his size, it'll be tough for him to have his life be very 'normal'. Also, with all the injuries and everything he has had, it's just good that he is even on the court this year.

[Sly Fox]

And let's be honest, these guys who have the similar "giant" characteristics don't tend to have long lifespans due to the wear & tear on their hearts. So you can't help but cheer for the guy ... except against the Flames.

[Ed Dantes]

Yeah, I've been intrigued by the kid ever since I was playing against UNC-A in College Hoops 2K7, and my 5'6" point guard tried driving to the lane before coming up against some Andre the Giant-esque wall... ... what? oh, I created myself in the game, and I'm the 13th man (Hubbard and Blair were injured that game)...


Oh, like YOU'VE never created yourself in a video game so you could play as you?

[SuperJon]

Of course I have, but I make myself the star, not the 13th man.

[JDUB]

was he short and fat?

[SuperJon]

I wasn't fat until a few years ago.

That's the first time I've ever been called short. Then again, I've been 6' since 9th grade.

[TDDance234]

You can find SJ in some WWF game, I'm sure.

[Fumblerooskies]

I just got back from watching UNCA practice...
...George is a beast (physically speaking)...
...and appears to have some skills under the basket. The only time he doesn't look like a basketball player is when he tries to run...
...think Lurch or Herman Munster.

[WinthropEagleFan]

I just got back from watching UNCA practice...
...George is a beast (physically speaking)...
...and appears to have some skills under the basket. The only time he doesn't look like a basketball player is when he tries to run...
...think Lurch or Herman Munster.

He has pretty good touch around the basket and plays smart defensively (though it is easier if you don't have to commit to blocking a shot since you don't have to jump)...but like you said, he can't run, so that really limits him.

[Cider Jim]

...think Lurch or Herman Munster.

Maybe the pep band could play the theme song The Adams Family when George enters the game.

[LU'sbestmanager]

I just got back from watching UNCA practice...
...George is a beast (physically speaking)...
...and appears to have some skills under the basket. The only time he doesn't look like a basketball player is when he tries to run...
...think Lurch or Herman Munster.

i think he sucks all around.

[PAmedic]

i think he sucks all around.

he may, but he and his team beat us earlier this month.

I'm betting you remember, too

[whmatthews]

So does McLean have the responsibility of guarding him, or do we bring in Russell for the two and a half minutes he's in?
Either way, it'll look like this:

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

I just got back from watching UNCA practice...
...George is a beast (physically speaking)...
...and appears to have some skills under the basket. The only time he doesn't look like a basketball player is when he tries to run...
...think Lurch or Herman Munster.

i think he sucks all around.

I hate to agree with you, but i Do Manger, 100%, He Sucks

[Fumblerooskies]

Rumor has it...
...that one of the rims in the Vines was off by an inch and UNCA caught it.
Shady....
...very shady indeed.

[nickrichard]

Fumbling Rooskies,
I do not think that is a big deal at all. Those rims go up and down all the time for practice/convo/games etc. I do not think anything intentional was done at all. Did one of the managers put up the goals before practice? Just probably did not go up all the way for some reason. BTW, the refs are supposed to check it before the game, correct?

[Fumblerooskies]

OK...
...We can blame it on Manger, then.

That would make for an interesting home court advantage, though.

[ATrain]

I believe such an incident occurred in a game at ODU, where one of the rims was off by 3/4 of an inch against W&M.

[nickrichard]

Even if they are off for a game, both teams still play on the same rims? No advantage either way.

[A.G.]

You're right, Nick. Far be it for our MBB program to ever attempt anything shady

[TIMSCAR20]

In the old Multi-purpose center the rims were never the same 2 days in a row. Ask anyone that played with us. Putting the rim up was far from an exact science. They had a ten foot pole and some days they would put the tip of the rim at the tip of the pole and other days they would put it on top of the pole. It just depended on who put the rim up. I guess UNCA caught the mistake because they have guys that can see eye level with the rim!

[absturgill]

2000 Points for Larry Blair. CONGRATS

[Purple Haize]

Refs don't check the rim heights for games. That is the responsibility of the home game management. I am not sure what, if any, penalty is/can be assessed if discovered during the course of a game. I am sure it has happened and will consult "The Counsel" on this one.

My quesiton is can we put one of our PG's on Alex's shoulders to guard the 7'7 guy? It would be a different look for him to actually have to shoot OVER somebody!!
MANGER and TB - I would watch what you say about D1 Scholarship ATHLETES. Not to demean, but HE is on the floor you two WIPE up the floor. (Nothing but love for managers though. Thankless job for sure!)

[Sly Fox]

Midway through the first half we are all over the Bulldogs, 25-10.