Tacko Fall is best known for his extraordinary height and his unlikely journey from Dakar, Senegal to professional basketball. At 7 feet 6 inches tall, he quickly became one of the most recognizable players in the NBA. But beyond his height, people are curious about his family background, education, faith, and what happened after his time in the NBA.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | El Hadji Tacko Sereigne Diop Fall |
| Date of Birth | December 10, 1995 |
| Age | 30 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Dakar, Senegal |
| Height | 7’6″ (2.29 m) without shoes, 7’7″ with shoes |
| Wingspan | 8’4″ (2.54 m) |
| Standing Reach | 10’2″ (3.10 m) |
| Shoe Size | 22 (US) |
| Position | Center |
| Shoots | Right |
| Mother | Marianne Diop Sene |
| NBA Teams | Boston Celtics (2019-2021), Cleveland Cavaliers (2021-2022) |
Parents and Family Background
Tacko’s mother is Marianne Diop Sene, who still lives in Dakar, Senegal. She worked multiple jobs to support her children through difficult financial circumstances. His father’s name has not been publicly disclosed, but he worked as a taxi driver in Ohio after moving to the United States before Tacko arrived.
His parents separated when Tacko was young. His mother remained in Senegal raising the children while his father emigrated to America. The family faced serious financial hardship—there were times Tacko went to school hungry and periods when electricity was cut off.
He has a younger brother named Fallou and at least one half-sister. His brother was reportedly 5’9″ at age seven. Two of his uncles stand 6’8″, but neither his parents nor most siblings share his extraordinary height. One uncle is approximately 6’8″, the tallest in the family besides Tacko.
His mother made clear that Tacko could pursue basketball only if he got a college education. She wouldn’t let him leave Senegal just to play sports—education was non-negotiable.
Early Life in Dakar
Born December 10, 1995 in Dakar, Senegal’s capital city, Tacko grew up in poverty. Money for basic necessities was scarce. His mother bought him the largest sandals she could find at the bazaar, but his growing feet kept destroying them. He would sew the animal skin sandals back together repeatedly because they couldn’t afford replacements.
He wore the same clothes all week. His eyesight was poor, so he got thick horn-rimmed glasses from a hospital. When they broke, he patched them with Scotch tape, athletic tape, or duct tape—whatever was available.
Growing up, he actually disliked basketball because it interrupted the cartoons he watched with his grandmother. He played soccer like most Senegalese kids and had no interest in basketball until he was discovered.
Discovery and Move to America
In 2011, basketball coach Ibrahima N’Diaye—brother of former NBA player Mamadou N’Diaye—heard from a friend about an exceptionally tall 15-year-old playing with friends on a local street. After finding Tacko, who already stood 7’3″ at 15, N’Diaye visited his home and convinced Marianne to let her son attend his basketball academy.
At 16, Tacko moved to the United States. He first went to Houston, Texas, where he trained with NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon at a charter school called Jamie’s House. The school closed unexpectedly, leaving him without proper paperwork to stay in America and extremely homesick.
He briefly stayed with his father and younger brother in Ohio, then moved through Georgia and Tennessee—essentially a nomad who spoke French better than English and understood soccer better than basketball.
Finally, Mandy Wettstein, a public relations specialist in Tavares, Florida, heard about Tacko’s situation. She and her husband Davis opened their home to him and another Senegalese player, Ange Badji. The Wettsteins became his host family for over six years, helping him navigate residency issues, education, and American life.
High School Excellence
Tacko attended Liberty Christian Preparatory School in Tavares, Florida. Despite starting organized basketball at 16—extremely late by American standards—his height and developing skills made him dominant.
As a senior in 2015, he averaged 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 5.1 blocks per game. He was rated as a four-star recruit with nearly 40 schools expressing interest. He was the tallest high school basketball player in the country and was reportedly still growing.
He maintained a 4.0 GPA while taking advanced mathematics and science classes. He became fluent in English within eight months of arriving in America and scored in the 95th percentile on the SAT—showing exceptional intelligence alongside his physical gifts.
He committed to the University of Central Florida in Orlando on October 28, 2014.
College Career at UCF
Freshman Year (2015-16): Tacko played 30 games, averaging 7.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.33 blocks in just 17.6 minutes per game. He shot an astonishing 75% from the field—setting a new UCF single-season record. He blocked 70 shots, second-most in UCF history at the time.
On December 12, 2015, he faced fellow Senegalese 7’6″ center Mamadou N’Diaye of UC Irvine in the tallest tip-off and matchup in U.S. college basketball history. Both players were from Dakar.
Sophomore Year (2016-17): He was named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award for best center in the nation. He averaged 10.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 71.5% from the field.
His 94 blocked shots set a single-season UCF record, and his 343 rebounds were the most in a season during UCF’s Division I era. He ranked second nationally in field-goal percentage.
On April 5, 2017, he declared for the NBA draft but withdrew on May 24 to return for his junior year.
Junior Year (2017-18): He suffered a shoulder injury that limited him to just 16 games and 351 minutes total—a frustrating setback.
Senior Year (2018-19): He bounced back with 11.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 74.8% from the field. He earned Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America honors and made the Myrtle Beach Invitational All-Tournament Team.
UCF made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005. Tacko scored 13 points with 18 rebounds and five blocks in UCF’s first-round victory over VCU, then had 15 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in a second-round loss to Duke.
On March 7, 2019, his mother Marianne flew from Senegal to watch him play for the first time in his life. According to the Orlando Sentinel, she hadn’t seen him in seven years and had never watched a full game even on the internet—only YouTube highlights. Their reunion at Orlando International Airport was emotional, with both crying upon seeing each other.
On Senior Night against No. 20 Cincinnati, both his biological mother Marianne and host mother Mandy Wettstein were honored at center court. After UCF’s 58-55 victory, Tacko rushed to find his mother for a hug. “It was like a dream,” he said. Marianne responded: “It was like the day he was born when I held him in my arms. I can’t describe the joy of seeing my son play for the first time.”
NBA Career
Tacko went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft despite his unique physical profile. He signed with the Boston Celtics and split time between the NBA roster and their G-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws.
During his time with Boston (2019-2021), he became a fan favorite. Whenever he entered games, crowds erupted. His measurements at the 2019 NBA Draft Combine set all-time records: tallest height in shoes (7’7″), longest wingspan (8’2.25″), and highest standing reach (10’2.5″).
In 37 NBA games with Boston, he averaged 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in limited minutes. He shot 77.1% from the field in the NBA—one of the highest percentages in league history for players with his minimum attempts.
On September 16, 2021, he signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played 11 games for Cleveland before being waived on January 5, 2022.
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Professional Career After NBA
After leaving the NBA, Tacko played internationally:
2022: Signed with Xinjiang Flying Tigers (CBA – China)
2024-25: Played 18 games for New Zealand Breakers (NBL – Australia), averaging 11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks before parting ways in July 2025.
2025: Signed with Nanjing Monkey Kings (CBA) in March, averaging 11.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 12 games.
August 2025: Signed with Ningbo Rockets (CBA), his current team.
Physical Measurements and Playing Style
At 7’6″ without shoes, Tacko is one of the tallest living humans. His measurements are extraordinary:
- Wingspan: 8’4″
- Standing reach: 10’2″
- Hand length and width: 10.5 inches
- Vertical jump: 2’2.5″
- Shoe size: 22 US
His height creates natural advantages—he can dunk without jumping, block shots simply by raising his arms, and alter offensive plans just by being on the court. However, lateral quickness and speed across the court remain limitations.
As documented on Basketball Reference, his career field goal percentage of 74% in college and 77.1% in the NBA reflect how his height creates easy scoring opportunities near the basket.
Religion and Personal Beliefs
Tacko is Muslim. He chose jersey number 99 with the Boston Celtics as a reference to the 99 names of Allah in Islamic tradition. His faith has been part of his identity throughout his career.
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Ethnicity and Nationality
Tacko is Senegalese, born and raised in Dakar. He holds Senegalese nationality and is of West African ethnicity. While he’s lived in the United States since age 16 and became fluent in English, his roots remain in Senegal where his mother and family still live.
Net Worth and Earnings
Tacko Fall’s estimated net worth is believed to be between $1 million and $2 million. His income has come primarily from NBA contracts, G-League play, and international basketball leagues. While he never signed a long-term NBA deal, his unique profile and global recognition helped him secure professional opportunities overseas.
Relationship and Personal Life
Tacko Fall has kept his personal life largely private. As of publicly available information, he has not confirmed being married or having children. He rarely discusses romantic relationships in interviews and prefers to focus public attention on his career and family background.
His close bond with his mother and host family in Florida has often been highlighted, but details about his private relationships remain limited.
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