Romanian wonder's first showing exhibits his potential, but also that he needs time to keep improving.
Video: 7-foot-7 freshman makes his varsity debut
See the first game action for Robert Bobroczky.Giant
Robert Bobroczky made his big American debut for
SPIRE Institute (Geneva, Ohio) on Thursday night and played limited minutes in an 87-51 loss to First Love Christian Academy (Washington, Pa.).
The 7-foot-7, 190-pound native of Romania is the second-tallest player in the world and taller than anyone currently in the NBA.
From the footage, it's obvious he's still adjusting to his towering frame and is in the initial stages of his development.
"It felt nice to play finally," Bobroczky said. "The game was as fast as I expected and I still need to work a lot. I just have to be patient and work, and the results will come."
The 16-year-old wonder showcased adept passing ability for his size and has undeniable potential - but he'll also be the first one to say that he needs to bulk up so he can help fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA.
"I'm mostly trying to get my body stronger and better," Bobroczky said. ''I'm eating 4,000 calories per day and want to weigh between 220-230 pounds by the end of this season. I'm also working on my speed, mobility and every part of my game."
Bobroczky was almost 7 feet tall at just 12 years old. He left home at the age of 14 and played in Italy for two years before joining the state-of-the-art international academy at SPIRE Institute.
"SPIRE Institute reached out to me and when I saw their facilities I was impressed," Bobroczky said. "It's the perfect place for me."
The interesting freshman is fluent in four languages (English, Hungarian, Italian and Romanian), plays the piano and carries a 4.0 grade point average.
Bobroczky has the genes for the game. His 7-1 father Zsiga competed on the Romanian national team with Gheorghe Muresan, who is regarded as the tallest player in NBA history at 7-7, along with Manute Bol. He studies film of the top centers in the NBA and admires Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan.
There's no guarantee that Bobroczky is destined for greatness - but if he grows into his frame and skill set, he could become a rare talent.
Robert Bobroczky, SPIRE Institute
Photo by Jeff Harwell
