Robert Bobroczkyi

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Robert Bobroczkyi

| image =

| caption =

| number =

| position = Center

| height_ft = 7

| height_in = 7

| weight_lb = 224

| league =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2000|7|17}}

| birth_place = Arad, Romania

| nationality = Romanian

| high_school = * SPIRE Institute (Geneva, Ohio)

Saint John (Ashtabula, Ohio)

| college = Rochester Christian University

| years1 = 2014–2015

| team1 = Stella Azzurra

| highlights =

| awards =

}}

Robert Bobroczkyi,{{cite news |last = Stubbs |first = Roman |title = 7-foot-7 at 17 |newspaper = The Washington Post |date = 26 January 2018 |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2018/01/26/feature/a-curse-or-a-blessing-a-7-foot-7-basketball-project-is-a-star-attraction-though-he-barely-plays/ |url-access=registration |access-date = 29 January 2018 }} (born 17 July 2000) alternatively anglicized as Robert Bobroczky and originally Róbert Bobróczky in Hungarian, is an ethnic Hungarian former college basketball player from Romania. Standing {{convert|2.31|m||abbr=on}}, he has drawn attention for his exceptional height. After moving to the United States in 2016 and attending high school in Geneva, Ohio, he attended and played for Rochester Christian University in Rochester Hills, Michigan, through the 2021–2023 season.

Early life

Bobróczky was born in Arad, Romania,{{cite web|url=https://www.nbadraft.net/players/robert-bobroczky/ |title=Robert Bobroczky|website=nbadraft.net|access-date=21 January 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nemzetisport.hu/kosarlabda/kosarlabda-amerika-megorul-a-231-centis-romaniai-magyar-oriasert-2708117|title=Kosárlabda: Amerika megőrül a 231 centis romániai magyar óriásért |website=Nemzeti Sport |date=26 June 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tarheeltimes.com/article81787.aspx|title = Meet Robert Bobroczky, a 7-7 high school freshman |website=Tar Heel Times |date=8 December 2016}} the son of {{convert|2.17|m|abbr=on}} tall Hungarian-born Romanian international basketball player Zsigmond Bobróczky (who competed alongside Gheorghe Mureșan{{cite web|url=https://www.feol.hu/sport/egeszseg-es-boldogsag-1753623/|url-status=dead|title=Egészség és boldogság - Bobroczky Róbert, a legmagasabb|website=feol.hu|date=16 February 2016|access-date=16 February 2016|archive-date=19 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419212741/http://feol.hu/sport/egeszseg-es-boldogsag-1753623}}{{Cite news|url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Zsigmond_Bobroczky/Romania/West-Olympia-Phoenix-Arad/25470 |title=Zsigmond Bobroczky Basketball Player Profile, West Olympia Phoenix Arad, News, Liga I stats, Career, Games Logs, Best, Awards – eurobasket|work=www.eurobasket.com|access-date=16 April 2018}}) and Brunhilde, a {{convert|1.86|m|abbr=on}} former volleyball and handball player. At age eight he was taller than his mother, at {{convert|1.88|m|abbr=on}} tall, and by the age of 12 he reached a height of {{convert|2.18|m|abbr=on}}, surpassing his father. As such, he was taller than Robert Wadlow was from the ages 8 to 13 years. He has been the subject of medical studies nearly his entire life, leading to the prevailing opinion that his height is a result of healthy genetics (i.e. familial or constitutional tall stature), not a hormonal disease or overgrowth syndrome. Bobróczky weighed just {{convert|190|lbs|abbr=on}} at the time of his high school basketball debut in January 2017,{{cite web|url=https://www.thebiglead.com/2017/01/14/a-7-foot-7-190-pound-16-year-old-made-his-high-school-basketball-debut-last-night/amp/ |title=A 7-foot-7, 190-Pound 16-Year-Old Made His High School Basketball Debut Last Night |website=The Big Lead |last=Corcoran |first=Tully |date=14 January 2017 |access-date=21 January 2017}} and with a height of {{convert|2.31|m|abbr=on}}, he was considered underweight, with a body mass index (BMI) of 16.1.{{cite news |last1=Naber |first1=Ibrahim |title=Basketball: Robert Bobroczky (16) war mit zwölf so groß wie Dirk Nowitzki heute |url=https://www.welt.de/sport/basketball/article161486262/Er-war-mit-zwoelf-so-gross-wie-Dirk-Nowitzki-heute.html |website=Die Welt |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201111210519/https://www.welt.de/sport/basketball/article161486262/Er-war-mit-zwoelf-so-gross-wie-Dirk-Nowitzki-heute.html |archive-date=11 November 2020 |language=de |date=25 January 2017 |url-status=live |quote=Bei einer Größe von 2,31 Meter bringt der Rumäne nur 86 Kilogramm auf die Waage. Das entspricht dem Body-Mass-Index von 16,1 eines Erwachsenen – deutliches Untergewicht}}

Career

= Youth =

In 2014, Bobróczky was recruited by A.S. Stella Azzurra, an amateur-level basketball club based in Italy that produced NBA power forward Andrea Bargnani.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportando.com/m/en/italy/serie-a/121864/stella-azzurra-signs-14-year-old-226cm-prospect-robert-bobroczky.html |title=Stella Azzurra signs 14-year old, 226cm prospect Robert Bobroczky|website=sportando.com|access-date=21 January 2017}}{{dead link |date=February 2023}} A scouting report on him noted that Bobróczky possessed an improved midrange jumper and passing ability, and his physical attributes made him an obvious mismatch against any of his opponents. Like most players of his stature however, Bobróczky was limited by his lack of muscle mass, endurance, and mobility on the court. His tremendously awkward gait and threat of exhaustion forced Bobróczky to play limited minutes after helping the team win its under-15 championship title. Despite his limitations, Bobróczky became an internet sensation in early 2016, as videos surfaced of him dominating much shorter competition during a game with Stella Azzurra.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/11/12/meet-robert-bobroczky-europes-7-foot-6-15-year-old-basketball-player/ |url-access=registration |title=Meet Robert Bobroczky: Europe's 7-foot-6, 15-year-old basketball player|newspaper=The Washington Post|last=Macklin |first=Oliver|access-date=21 January 2017}}

= High school =

In 2016, Bobróczky moved to Geneva, Ohio, in the United States to attend the college-preparatory school SPIRE Institute and Academy.{{cite web|url=https://www.maxpreps.com/m/news/Wa2cq7EcPU6_21b353w1lg/7-foot-7-romanian-freshman-robert-bobroczky-plays-high-school-basketball-for-ohios-spire-institute.htm|title=7-foot-7 Romanian freshman Robert Bobroczky plays high school basketball for SPIRE Institute|website=maxpreps.com|author=Ostrander, Lynden|access-date=21 January 2017}} Entering his freshman season, Bobróczky was put on a minutes restriction as he attempted to bulk up his physique for a transition into faster, more physical American basketball.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.3371573|title=Teen basketball giant, attempting to bulk-up with pasta|website=cbc.ca|author=Dampf, Andrew|access-date=21 January 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/the-second-tallest-basketball-player-in-the-world-made-his-american-high-school-debut/ar-AAlRVPb|title=The second-tallest basketball player in the world made his American high school debut|website=MSN|author=Clapp, Matt|access-date=21 January 2017|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116151611/http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/the-second-tallest-basketball-player-in-the-world-made-his-american-high-school-debut/ar-AAlRVPb}} On 14 January 2017, Bobróczky made his debut for SPIRE Institute.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2017/01/21/seven-foot-freshman-robert-bobroczky-high-school-basketball-varsity-debut-video|title=Watch: 7-foot-7 freshman Robert Bobroczky makes varsity basketball debut|magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=21 January 2017 |access-date=21 January 2017}} {{as of|January 2018}} he was attending the nearby Grand River Academy.{{cite news|first=Zach|last=Schonbrun|title=A Teenager's Basketball Dream Is Size XXXXXL|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/26/sports/basketball/7-foot-7-robert-bobroczkyi-prospect.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 January 2018|access-date=28 January 2018 |url-access=subscription}}

In July 2020, Bobróczky committed to Rochester Christian University, which spelled his surname as "Bobroczkyi" on their roster.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rochesteruwarriors.com/article/1478 |url-status=dead |title=RU Men's Basketball Signs Robert Bobroczkyi |website=Rochester University Athletics |date=21 July 2020 |access-date=31 July 2020 |archive-date=4 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204232850/http://www.rochesteruwarriors.com/article/1478 }}

= College =

He returned to Romania shortly after classes began due to the COVID-19 pandemic in fall 2020 but returned in fall 2021,{{cite press release |last= |first= |date= 18 October 2021 |title= RU Student and Dr. Klint Pleasant to be featured on HBO's 'Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel' October 19 • 10 p.m. |url= https://rochesteru.edu/hborealsports/ |website= Rochester University |access-date= 18 October 2021 }} again with the spelling "Bobroczkyi" on the Rochester Christian University JV roster.{{cite web |title=What Happened to Robert Bobroczky? |url=https://techiegamers.com/robert-bobroczkyi/ |website=TechieGamers.com |publisher=Techie + Gamers |access-date=28 May 2023}}{{cite web | url = http://www.rochesteruwarriors.com/roster/19/1/4393.php | url-status = dead | title = Men's Basketball Roster: Robert Bobroczkyi | date = | website = Rochester University Warrior Athletics | access-date = 18 October 2021 | archive-date = 19 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211019062303/http://www.rochesteruwarriors.com/roster/19/1/4393.php }}

Personal life

As a high school senior, Bobróczky wore US size 17 shoes and had a {{convert|57|in|cm|abbr=on|order=flip}} inseam.

Bobróczky speaks Romanian, Hungarian, English, Serbian, and Italian.{{cite news |agency= Associated Press |title = Towering Teenager Has Scouts Buzzing |newspaper = The New York Times |date = 19 December 2015 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/20/sports/basketball/towering-teenager-has-scouts-buzzing.html |url-access=subscription}}

In 2024, Bobróczky made his acting debut as a Human-Xenomorph mutant (credited as "Offspring") in the sci-fi horror film Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Álvarez.{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2024 |title=Alien: Romulus Final Credits |url=https://dam.gettyimages.com/s/79qmb3xxb9x7zhrb94vknnz |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=The Walt Disney Studios Media Kits' All Access Pages |via=Getty Images}}