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Come Fan with UsThursday, June 25, 2026

Meet The Jehovah’s Witness Turned Seven-Foot College Hoops Mystery

Dewayne Dedmon grew up a Jehovah's Witness in Southern California, forbidden by his mother from ever playing organized sports. He got big, though—6'8 as an 18 year-old, 7 feet now—and he got restless, and eventually he found a basketball court. The rest is history.

↵After learning the game in junior college, Dedmon’s at USC now, and nobody really knows what to expect next. His mother is already worried.

↵↵She knows Dewayne might be drafted into the NBA ... “It would be kind of difficult, because you can’t serve two masters,” she says. “He would probably have to make a decision within himself. He thought he could do both, but obviously you can’t.”

↵↵Meanwhile, USC is elated at the possibilities. And whatever happens from here, it’s already a great story. Sports have been awful this week, yes, but you won’t read a better story today than Chris Ballard’s look at Dewayne Dedmon’s journey to college hoops. Take 10 minutes, check it out, and remember that sports can still be pretty cool sometimes.

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