If you are a fan of basketball, you may have heard of two Senegalese players who share the same surname and have impressive heights: Baye Fall and Tacko Fall. Baye Fall is a 6’10” center who is a five-star recruit in the class of 2023 and has committed to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Tacko Fall is a 7’6″ center who played for the University of Central Florida and has had stints with the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China. But are they related by blood or by name only? Here is what we know.
The Meaning of Fall
Fall is a common surname in Senegal, especially among the Wolof ethnic group. It is derived from the Arabic word “Falla”, which means “one who splits wood”.The name is also associated with a Muslim sect in Senegal called the Baye Fall, which was founded by Cheikh Ibrahima Fall in the late 19th century. The Baye Fall are known for their dreadlocked hair, colorful patchwork clothes, spiritual amulets, and devotion to hard work.
The Origin of Baye Fall
Baye Fall was born on December 21, 2003 in Dakar, Senegal. He grew up playing soccer as a goalkeeper, but switched to basketball at the age of 13 after his older brother and uncle noticed his potential on the court.He moved to the United States at the age of 15 to join his cousin and uncle in Denver, Colorado, where he enrolled at Lincoln Academy Charter School. ¹ He made a strong impression on scouts at the Pangos Junior All-American Camp in 2019, where he was compared to Deandre Ayton.
Baye Fall played for Lutheran High School in Parker, Colorado for his freshman and sophomore years, where he averaged 19.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game as a freshman and 22.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game as a sophomore. He led his team to a class 3A state title in his sophomore year and was named the class 3A state player of the year, the MaxPreps Colorado Player of the Year, and a first-team MaxPreps Sophomore All-American.
For his junior year, Baye Fall transferred to Denver Prep Academy, a member of the Grind Session national prep basketball league. He averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks per game and was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2023.He also participated in various camps and showcases, such as the Pangos All-American Camp, where he shared co-MVP honors with JJ Taylor, and the NBPA Top 100 Camp, where he was the only player to average a double-double and made the All-Star team.
Baye Fall is considered one of the top prospects in the class of 2023 and is ranked No. 16 by ESPN, No. 17 by Rivals, and No. 18 by 247Sports. He has received offers from several colleges, including Arkansas, Auburn, Kansas State, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Texas, and Colorado. He announced his commitment to Arkansas on October 17, 2022 via Twitter.
The Origin of Tacko Fall
Tacko Fall was born on December 10, 1995 in Dakar, Senegal. He did not play any sports until he was introduced to basketball at the age of 16 by Senegalese coach Ibrahima N’Diaye, who invited him to join his basketball academy.He moved to the United States later that year to pursue better education and basketball opportunities. He first played for Jamie’s House Charter School in Houston, Texas, where he won a state championship and trained with NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.
Tacko Fall then transferred to Liberty Christian Prep in Tavares, Florida for his junior and senior years. He averaged 11 points, nine rebounds and six blocks per game as a junior and improved to 18 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks per game as a senior. He was listed as one of the tallest high school basketball players in the country at 7’6″ and received offers from several colleges, including Georgetown, Tennessee, Purdue, Wake Forest, Harvard, Vanderbilt.
