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Can you imagine standing face-to-face with Michael Jordan and being able to see the top of the 6-foot-6-inch basketball star's bald head? Or what about having to merely stand on your tip-tops to look 7-foot-1 Shaq in the eye? For 6-foot-11 Marvadene Anderson, that's a reality. At only 16 -- yes, 16 -- years old, Anderson is the tallest teenager in the world and the newest member of the Rutgers Prep high school basketball team. The sophomore moved here from her native Jamaica after being scouted by the team's assistant coach right around her 15th birthday. After discussing the opportunity with her family -- who are still in Jamaica -- she decided to accept a scholarship at Rutgers Prep to play basketball and get a better education.
Thing is, Anderson's new to basketball entirely. In Jamaica, the game of choice is "netball," which has similar rules to basketball and is played on a similar-size court, but there's no dribbling and teams are made up of seven players instead of five. Netball also goes the field-hockey route and has players wear skirts as part of the uniform.
Anderson was the top-scoring netball player in her age group in Jamaica, and her coaches say she's having no problem picking up the American sport. Her Rutgers Prep teammates (some of whom are barely as tall as her elbows) are doing the best to help her out. College recruiters are already scouting "Bubbles," which is her nickname from back home, earned because of her bubbly personality.
As we ladies know, at 16 you still have a few more years of growing to do, so there's still a chance she can take over the world record for tallest woman (which was held by the late 7-foot-7.25" Sandy Allen, of Shelbyville, Ind.).
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Monday 28 December
By Evelyn
The author is wrong to state that she will continue to grow after 16. It depends on her genetics. I (and most female members of my family) reached our full height by the age of 13. The males reached their full height by the age of 16. And our familyis tall, girls ranging from 5'9" (that's me) to my grandchildren, who range up to 6'5". The tallest girl so far is a granddaughter who is 6'. She is 16, and has reached her full height. I hope this young lady has reached her full height, but whether she has or not, she isn't a freak. She is trying to better herself, and I wish her well. I'll be watching for her, when she starts playing in the college ranks.
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Monday 28 December
By yvettesuniverse
you are right, girls stop growing around 16. boys continue growing until around 18.
Monday 28 December
By Dennis.E
Ya thats some kind of height.. I was the tallest kid in my basketball team. You know, basketball is really unfair, there are a lot of kids with bounding spirit and talent... But they are too short. So ya, I think there should be a standard in height, they already have it to where short people really can't play... And ya, they're just using her... But I'm sure she's a nice girl, she probably made tortillas and corn cakes really well in Jamaica...
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Monday 28 December
By Chaz Goodman
Don't we have children here in the US that are in need of a good education? It's a shame that athletics always out way academics. I love sports and I love that my kids play sports, but I would rather see them achieve academically than athetically. Lets start searching out the really smart children that are in very bad areas and get them out of there so that they have a chance to flourish.
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Monday 28 December
By kevw31
You really need to find a church and discover the love of Jesus. People make their own decisions and yours is to be a miserable subhuman nasty mouth devil worshipping hater. First get saved, then get baptized, and attend church every chance you get------ do myou see how many people think you are nasty? Everyone can't be wrong. You must be jealous because you never mounted up to anything. Find jesus and you to can be happy.
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Monday 28 December
By awesome
hahahaa my schools basketball team plays rutgers prep. should be an interesting game to watch.
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Monday 28 December
By vernonad
I have a daughter who is 6'3" and she feels so "different". Since she was very young everyone wanted her to play basketball. She really would like people to know that she is more than her height and much more than a basketball player. I wish this young lady the best and pray that SHE WANTS to play basketball and not that people are placing her in the role they want her to be in.
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Monday 28 December
By Larry Flynt
Her muff must be the size of a pizza!
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Monday 28 December
By von
I am sure you like banana spilts!
Monday 28 December
By eric
Many freaks like her are born in Jamaica since they use many types of drugs there. My husband and I visited Jamaica one time which was enough for us since even little kids try to sell you drugs as soon as you get off the plane. Jamaica reminded me of another Detroit.
your obvousl crazy jamicas awesome maye ur blinded by wat u want to see and wat u wantto see. and whyis evr1 taling about education?
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Wednesday 30 December
By Dana
Oh Eric...If only you had a bit more class to offer more fruitful commentary...Detroit isn't a city worth mentioning by anyone with discerning standards...We understand that you are bitter that West Indians consistently outperform and outclass many Americans partuclarly black ones...but at least make the effort to fake some civility when you're on a public forum....Oh dear what am I saying?...this is the land of trailer trash and Paris Hiltons..
Monday 28 December
By ben
ummm im just curious as to who gave u the right to call them freaks?
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Monday 28 December
By Tameaka
have you been to detroit or is this just hear say because kids in detroit isn't selling you drugs like in jamaica sweetie!
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Monday 28 December
By Abby
I want to slap all of u! Shes just a young girl and by the way jamacan schools are NOT better!! I have been to jamica and its very run down and TONS of murder happen there, its not safe AT ALL and it wont have better schools! Come on think people!
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Monday 28 December
By CSPICE727
Abby,
I was partially schooled in Jamaica and I must say that the educational curriculum is better. Yes, you are correct about the crime rate and the physical appearance of the schools. However, the children are more disciplined and take their education seriously. Unfortunately with the poor economy, most children do not get a chance to go past high school. My cousin was schooled in Jamaica and when he came here he was advance to a higher grade because of his academic performance which surpasses the children in his class.
American education system is failing and has been for years. Education reform is badly needed in American so that our children will have a fair chance to compete. Jamaica maybe a third world country, but it really hit the map when it comes on to education—just look at the young girl who won the spelling b in America few years back. She is just one example out of many.
Thanks for your post and I hope one day that you and others will get chance to explore the Jamaica culture before casting judgment. Have a Happy New Year!
Monday 28 December
By von
Where did you go to school? Check your spelling and your grammer!
Monday 28 December
By CSPICE727
My husband and I were born in Jamaica. I have been in the USA for over 29 years and my husband over 10 years. Jamaicans are naturally hard workers and extremely ambitious people who are able to make a dollar out of pennies. I hold a Masters in Clinical Social work and hold a very prestigious job in a government agency. My husband is in college working on his BA degree and also has a very decent job in a federal agency. It feels good whenever I come across another fellow Jamaican making stride in a country where opportunity exits for all—A country where Blacks have to worker twice as harder to compete and make ends meet.
So to all the readers with racist and ignorant comments—YOU CAN NEVER TAKE AWAY OUR EDUCATION, STRENGTH, PRIDE, COURAGE, AMBITION, AND MOST OF ALL-THE BLESSING THAT GOD HAS CAST ON US AS HIS PEOPLE.
Bubbles, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Please ignore the negative, racist, and ignorant comments. On behalf of American, I apologized and truly welcome you in the land of opportunity. May God continue to shine his light on you and your family.
As we say in Jamaica—ONE LOVE & ONE HEART!
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Monday 28 December
By Pat Walcott
To Bubbles - Congratulations dear! May God Bless you and may you continue in the path that He Has Planned for you.
To alicekrm - I am a British born Jamaican having grown up in Jamaica and have lived in the US for for over 37 years. Were you having a bad day when you made such an odious comment or do simply have so much self-hatred? I will not lower myself any further to dignify you with a comment but I will pray for you.
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Monday 28 December
By kevw31
Welcome to the USA young lady and I hope your stay is very happy and blessed.. I hope the school advises you to attend church and praise God in Jesus name. It is not good to gain the whole world and loose your soul.
Galatians 3:26 "For you are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus".
Mark 15:39 "And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said truly this man was the son of God". And to the rest of the world, I love to preach salvation on the internet. It says in John 15:16 " we are chosen by God, we did not choose him, he chose us". The devil chooses his own as well but we still can make the choice and say "get thee behind me Satan". Let Jesus into your life and see what happiness is really like, you may loose some of your drinking and drugging, and gambeling friends, but you will gain life eternal with Jesus.
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Monday 28 December
By Chaz Goodman
Did you study science in school? There is no god. Stop the BS. Do some research instead of reading some man written mythical BS. Why do you think the catholic church fights against science and has for hundreds of years. They don't won't the truth to be expose in fear of losing what they have. You poor soul.