Tacko Fall stands out for more than his size at NBA Combine

Tacko Fall measured as expected at the NBA Combine, but he also showed he’s got to more to offer.

After the frenzy of the draft lottery Tuesday night, 60 aspiring NBA players attended the draft combine in Chicago. Tacko Fall entered the national spotlight when UCF nearly upset Duke in the NCAA Tournament, holding his own against Zion Williamson, and he was sure to be one of the most intriguing prospects in attendance.

Fall did not disappoint from a pure physical standpoint, measuring 7-foot-7 in shoes (7-foot-5 and 1/2 without shoes) and 289 pounds with just 6.8 percent body fat. His height in shoes, 8-foot-2 and 1/4-inch wingspan and 10-foot-2 and 1/2-inch standing reach set Combine records. His hands measured 10 and 1/2 inches.

Fall averaged 11.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game last season at UCF. But his free throw percentage fell nearly 10 percent from his junior season (36.2 percent), and he does not fit the mold of a modern NBA big man with zero 3-point attempts during his college career.

By all accounts, Fall showed well in combine scrimmages. He earned an invite to the event based on his performance at the G League Elite Camp early in the week, where former Atlanta Hawks general manager Wes Wilcox was among those who saw him.

Wilcox spoke to Yahoo! Sports about Fall.

"I’m impressed with how easily he moves. He runs well and has great coordination and balance. Having no base of knowledge, other than TV, I’m very much impressed. You don’t see 7-foot-5 guys with that coordination move the way that he does. I’m intrigued."

Fall said he has spent the last two months working with NBA trainer Drew Hanlen. His free throw shooting has been an easy focus, to go along with core strength and conditioning. There has been some noted improvement in his form at the line.

Here’s a look at Fall’s vertical jump and lane agility drills from Friday.

https://twitter.com/BrookeWeisbrod/status/1129494704456904704

Fall is at best a second-round pick in current mock drafts, and he’s going undrafted in many. But he showed NBA scouts he has more to offer than sheer size this week, with surprising showings of athleticism. Defensively and on the glass he seems ready to contribute right away, with obvious room to grow offensively and develop into a functional foul shooter.