He's 14 inches shorter than the next-shortest player on the team and also in FIFTH GRADE.
Julian Newman is a dude. At 4'5" and 11 years old, he's the starting point guard for Downey Christian School in Florida, where his father coaches. And a New York Times story from this weekend describes how he ended up being the smallest — and often best — player on the court. (According to the Times, multiple teams have forfeited games against Downey Christian this year to avoid the embarrassment of losing to him.) But to really understand how ridiculous this kid is, you've got to see it.
First, to whet your appetite, a little practice tape.
Not bad! Not bad at all. Really not bad. Quite good, actually.
When you're this small, it's pretty essential that you have a runner in your arsenal, since that's your best chance at getting shots past taller players in the paint.
