Seven foot tall Tralee teenager set for the big time in US basketball

The 19-year-old has been offered a five-year scholarship to LeSalle University in Philadelphia.

Meet Cian Sullivan. The 19-year-old Tralee native could be headed for basketball superstardom in the US after being offered a five-year college scholarship.

The seven foot tall teenager made a move to a prep school in the US in the summer in the hope of forging a career in basketball, attending the $50k-a-year school on a sports scholarship.

Picture: traleetoday.ie

Cian has continued to impress while there and has now been offered a five-year scholarship to LeSalle University in Philadelphia.

Traleetoday.ie reports that Cian was invited to the college’s campus last week after La Salle coaches watched him play, and while there he signed a letter-of-intent to play with them.

LeSalle men’s basketball team, the Explorers, play in the top division of the NCAA. Sullivan is being offered the opportunity to spend a year developing his skills before playing with the college for four years.

His school coach Mike Hart described Cian as "a project, but one that's worth the risk."

"He likes the weight room and is getting stronger," Hart told the Providence Journal. "In two years I can see him being 230 pounds.

"He loves the game and is willing to work hard."