30 Tallest College Basketball Players of All-Time
January 9, 2025
According to the NCAA, there are currently 19,213 men’s college basketball players in America. Considering the sport began in 1893, that amounts to thousands of players who have competed at the collegiate level over the past 130 years. Despite these numbers, only 30 players in history have ever measured at least seven feet, four inches tall – a truly remarkable feat! These 30 athletes are the tallest college basketball players of all time. Read the list below to learn more.
30 Tallest College Basketball Players of All-Time
30) Blake Vedder, Kent State & Rhode Island, 7’4” (2010-12 & 2014-15)
Vedder saw limited playing time at both Rhode Island and Kent State. He played for the Rams from 2010-2012 and then returned to play at Kent State for the 2014-15 season. In total, he played in 29 collegiate games.
29) Steve Turner, Vanderbilt, 7’4” (1969–73)
Turner was a shot-blocking force at Vanderbilt, although he played in an era before blocked shots were officially recorded. He averaged eight points and nearly seven rebounds a game and was eventually drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1973.
28) Riley Sorn, Washington, 7’4” (2019–22)
Sorn brought size and shot-blocking to the Huskies, though he primarily served as a bench player. His best season came in 2020–21 when, as a sophomore, he averaged 3.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
Tallest College Basketball Players Ever (Continued)
27) Rik Smits, Marist, 7’4” (1984–88)
Known as The Dunking Dutchman, Smits is one of the more accomplished players on this list. He played four years for the Marist Red Foxes with his most productive season coming during his senior year. During his 1987-88 season, he averaged 24.7 points, 3.9 blocks, and 8.7 rebounds per game. He was drafted second overall in the 1988 NBA Draft and became a star with the Indiana Pacers, earning an NBA All-Star nod in 1998.
26) Chase Metheney, Virginia, 7’4” (1995–98)
Metheney played for three seasons for UVA and was a solid defensive anchor off the bench. He averaged a block a game during his career and played in 67 total collegiate contests.
Tallest College Basketball Players of All-Time (Continued)
25) Riley Sorn, Florida State & Syracuse, 7’4” (2021–Current)
McLeod is the first current player on this list. He started his career with the Seminoles, where he played in 46 games before transferring to Syracuse in 2023. Currently, McLeod is in his second season with the Orangemen and has only played five games.
24) Rolf Mayr, Duquesne, 7’4” (1987–88)
Mayr played just one season at Duquesne, appearing in 12 games and averaging 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 points per game.
Tallest College Basketball Players Ever (Continued)
23) Jakub Kusmieruk, UCF & Idaho State, 7’4” (2008–13)
Known for his massive 285-pound frame, Kusmieruk primarily played a reserve role at both Central Florida and Idaho State. He played in 75 total collegiate games and averaged 2.4 points and 1.7 rebounds a game.
22) Christ Koumadje, Florida State, 7’4” (2015–19)
A crucial defensive player for Florida State, Koumadje played four years for the Seminoles and started all 37 games during his 2018-19 senior year. During that season, he averaged 1.4 blocks per game and helped the Seminoles reach the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.
21) Matt Van Komen, Utah, St. Mary’s (CA), & Elon, 7’4” (2019–21 & 2024-Current)
Van Komen’s collegiate career featured three different schools. He started at the University of Utah then transferred to the Gaels of St. Mary. He took three seasons off before transferring to Elon University where he is currently the starting center, averaging 8.9 rebounds and six points per game.
Tallest College Basketball Players of All-Time (Continued)
20) Mark Eaton, UCLA, 7’4” (1980–82)
Eaton played sparingly at UCLA before becoming an NBA legend as a shot-blocking specialist for the Utah Jazz. He led the NBA in blocks four times and was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He played all 11 of his NBA seasons with Utah, and his 456 blocked shots is still the NBA single-season record.
19) Lonnie Boeckman, Oklahoma State, 7’4” (1973–77)
Boeckman played in 42 games during his collegiate career for Oklahoma State. During his senior year in 1976-77, he averaged 1.3 blocks and 1.7 rebounds per game.
18) Alan Bannister, Oklahoma State & Arkansas State, 7’4” (1985–90)
A versatile center, Bannister’s best season was his freshman year with the Cowboys when he averaged 7.6 points, 1.8 blocks, and 3.9 rebounds per game. Despite playing collegiately for three more seasons, he only appeared in 37 additional games and never recaptured that same level of dominance.
Tallest College Basketball Players of All-Time (Continued)
17) Ralph Sampson, Virginia, 7’4” (1979–83)
Sampson is largely considered one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. A three-time Naismith Award winner, he led Virginia to an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1981 and was the first overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft. During his four seasons with UVA, he averaged 16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game, and he compiled 462 total career blocks.
16) Zach Edey, Purdue, 7’4” (2020–24)
Edey is another legendary college player who was a two-time AP Player Of the Year and two-time Naismith Award winner. He led the Boilermakers to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2024 National Championship game when Purdue lost to a storied UConn program. During his senior season, he averaged 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game.
Tallest College Basketball Players of All-Time (Continued)
15) Greg Ritter, Portland, 7’5” (1989–91)
Despite his 7’5” height, Ritter only played in eight games during his two seasons with the Portland Pilots. He averaged 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds per game.
14) Chuck Nevitt, NC State, 7’5” (1978–82)
Nevitt was a member of NC State’s 1982 ACC championship team. Largely a role player, he appeared in 91 games during his five seasons with the Wolfpack. He went on to have a lengthy professional career and won an NBA Championship in 1985 with the LA Lakers.
Tallest College Basketball Player (Continued)
13) Will Foster, Gonzaga, 7’5” (2006–10)
Foster played a reserve role at Gonzaga, appearing in 78 games but only averaging six minutes per game. He averaged 1.3 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.
12) Sim Bhullar, New Mexico State, 7’5” (2012–14)
Bhullar was a dominant presence in his two seasons at New Mexico State, leading the Aggies to two NCAA Tournament appearances and earning two WAC tournament MVP awards. He averaged 3.4 blocks and 10.4 points per game during his sophomore season. After leaving New Mexico State, Bhullar became the first player of Indian descent to play in the NBA, signing with the Sacramento Kings in 2014.
Tallest College Basketball Players Ever (Continued)
11) Jamarion Sharp, Western Kentucky & Ole Miss, 7’5” (2021–24)
During his sophomore season with the Hilltoppers in 2021-22, Sharp led the NCAA in blocks with 148. He averaged 3.7 blocks per game during his three years in college. Sharp was signed in 2024 to the Dallas Mavericks’ summer league team and was the tallest player in the NBA during his brief tenure. He currently plays for the Texas Legends G League team.
10) Mamadou Ndiaye, UC Irvine, 7’6” (2013–16)
The Senegalese center was a dominant defender at UC Irvine, leading the mid-major to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2015. Ndiaye was a two-time Big West Defensive Player of the Year who averaged 2.5 blocks and 10.2 points per game over his career. After UC Irvine, he played for two seasons in the Mexican National Basketball League.
Tallest College Basketball Players of All-Time (Continued)
9) John Hollinden, Oral Roberts, 7’6” (1976–78)
At the time, Hollinden was the tallest college basketball player ever. Despite his height, he only played in 12 total games during his two seasons with the Golden Eagles.
8) Shawn Bradley, BYU, 7’6” (1990–91)
Bradley was a shot-blocking sensation at BYU, averaging 5.2 blocks per game in his lone collegiate season. He was drafted second overall in the 1993 NBA Draft and had a solid, 13-year professional career with three different NBA teams.
Tallest College Basketball Players Ever (Continued)
7) Tacko Fall, UCF, 7’6” (2015–19)
Fall was a fan favorite during his four seasons at UCF, averaging 2.5 blocks and 10 points per game. He helped UCF reach the NCAA Tournament in 2019 and nearly upset #1-seed Duke in a memorable second-round game.
6) Mike Lanier, Hardin-Simmons & UCLA, 7’7” (1988–93)
Lanier played for two seasons at Hardin-Simmons, a small Christian college in Abilene, Texas, before transferring to college basketball powerhouse UCLA for his final two years. He is the tallest player in Bruins’ program history, although he only appeared in 19 games during his UCLA tenure.
Tallest College Basketball Players of All-Time (Continued)
5) Kenny George, UNC Asheville, 7’7” (2006–08)
George led the nation in field goal percentage in 2008 and was a dominant force in the Big South Conference. He was the 2007-08 Big South Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 3.3 blocks and seven rebounds per game. His career was cut short due to a severe foot infection that required partial amputation.
4) Paul Sturgess, Florida Tech & Mountain State, 7’7” (2008–11)
Sturgess is currently the tallest living person in the United Kingdom. He played for Mountain State University, an NAIA program located in Beckley, West Virginia. He became a Harlem Globetrotter after college and also played professionally in the British Basketball League for the Cheshire Phoenix.
3) Neil Fingleton, UNC & Holy Cross, 7’7” (2001–04)
Fingleton’s collegiate career was hampered by injuries, but he remains notable as one of the tallest players in NCAA history and the tallest British-born man. He later transitioned to a career in acting, appearing in major films and TV series. He sadly passed away in 2017 at the age of 36.
Tallest College Basketball Players Ever (Continued)
2) George Bell, Morris Brown College & Biola, 7’8” (1979–82)
In 2007, the Guinness Book of World Records named Bell as the tallest living American-born man. He played his senior season at Biola University, a Division II school in La Mirada, CA. After graduation, he played with the Harlem Globetrotters.
1) Olivier Rioux, Florida, 7’9” (2024–Current)
The tallest player in college basketball history is currently a redshirt freshman at the University of Florida. The Canadian-born Rioux played on a variety of Canadian national teams before joining the Gators. He is also the Guinness Book of World Records holder for tallest teenager.
Tallest College Basketball Players – Additional Resources
