Paul Sturgess (basketball)

This article is about English basketball player Paul "Tiny" Sturgess (also known in the United Kingdom as Tall Paul). For the late 1950s pop song, see Tall Paul.
Paul Sturgess
Personal information
Born (1987-11-25) November 25, 1987[1]
Loughborough, Leicestershire, England
Nationality British
Listed height 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
Listed weight 320 lb (145 kg)
Career information
High school Burleigh Community College
(Loughborough, Leicestershire)
College
Playing career 2011–present
Position Center
Career history
2011–2013 Harlem Globetrotters
2013–2014 Texas Legends
2014–2015 Cheshire Phoenix

Paul Sturgess (born November 25, 1987) is an English professional basketball player who last played for the Cheshire Phoenix of the British Basketball League. He was officially measured barefeet by Guinness World Records in November 2011 at 7 ft 7.26 in (2.3180 m) and 325 lb (147 kg). Sturgess was the tallest ever college basketball player in the United States and is the tallest professional basketball player in the world.[2]

Paul "Tiny" Sturgess was "drafted" by the Harlem Globetrotters in August 2011[3] and is the tallest ever to play for the team.[1][4] He joined the team with fellow rookie Jonte "Too Tall" Hall, who at 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) is the shortest player ever[5] and is 2.5 ft (76 cm) shorter than Sturgess.

Sturgess wears a size 18 shoe.[6][7] He is the second tallest living Englishman behind Neil Fingleton who is 7 ft 7.56 in (2.3256 m) tall. Examinations as a teenager revealed that his growth is healthy and not the result of disorder, but rather he possesses familial tall stature—that is to say his height is genetic. His biological father is 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), and there are other tall members in his family although his mother is 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) and his younger sister is 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m).[8] He featured prominently in the 2007 ITV1 television documentary Supersize Kids: Britain's Tallest Teens when he was 19 and playing at Florida Tech.[9]

Sturgess enjoys playing many other sports and before concentrating on basketball also played golf and football.[8] He started playing team basketball at age 14 when he was 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m), was 7 ft (2.1 m) aged 16 playing at Burleigh Community College, and was 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) when he graduated high school at age 18. A growth spurt during ages of 16 and 17 resulted in a 1 ft (30 cm) of height added within a single year. Sturgess can hold the 10 ft (3.0 m) high rim whilst standing. He declined offers to play professional basketball in Europe, preferring to pursue basketball in the US.

On November 1, 2013, Sturgess was selected by the Springfield Armor in the third round of the 2013 NBA Development League Draft.[10] On November 4, 2013, he was traded to the Texas Legends where he played for the rest of the season.[11]

On November 19, 2014 he was signed by Cheshire Phoenix of the British Basketball League.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Tiny - Harlem Globetrotters Basketball". Harlem Globetrotters. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  2. ↑ Morrison, Dave (2009-08-29). "Cougars' signee Sturgess brings a lot to the table". Register-Herald. Beckley, WV. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  3. ↑ "Paul's enjoying high life with basketball legends". Leicester Mercury. Leicestershire, UK. 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  4. ↑ "Harlem Globetrotters Announce 2012". Harlem Globetrotters. 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  5. ↑ "Too Tall - Harlem Globetrotters Basketball". Harlem Globetrotters. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  6. ↑ Covitz, Randy (2010-03-24). "-and-england "U.S. college basketball's tallest player is 7-foot-7" and from England". Standard-Examiner. Ogden, UT. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  7. ↑ "Loughborough basketball player attracting big clubs". Leicester Mercury. Leicestershire, UK. 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  8. 1 2 AP (2009-11-29). "7-foot-8 Sturgess honing game at NAIA school". Sun Journal. Lewiston, ME. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  9. ↑ "Supersize Kids - Britain's Tallest Teens". ITV1. Sep 2007. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  10. ↑ Armor Draft 7 Players in 2013 NBA D-League Draft
  11. ↑ Legends Complete Three Trades, Finalize Training Camp Roster
  12. ↑ World's tallest player Paul Sturgess signs with Cheshire Phoenix
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