When teenagers worry about outgrowing their school uniform, one Canadian boy is dealing with a very different reality. At 14, his height turns heads wherever he goes, long before anyone notices the basketball in his hands.
His story is not just about centimetres, but about growing up faster than the world around you.
A body that defies the tape measure
Jérémy Gohier does not blend into a crowd. At 2.29 metres tall, he already stands just a breath away from the tallest players ever to appear in the NBA, including Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, both listed at 2.31 metres. At 14, he is taller than every active NBA player today, including Victor Wembanyama.
What makes this even more remarkable is that his growth is not finished. Over the past year alone, he has added 11 centimetres. Doctors continue to monitor him, but medical tests have ruled out gigantism. His height, extraordinary as it is, appears to be a rare but natural trajectory.
Growing up in fast forward
From an early age, Jérémy’s growth set him apart. At two years old, he already measured 1.20 metres. By nine, he was 1.70 metres tall, often returning from school with trousers torn at the seams. His mother recalls a moment that still makes her smile and wince at the same time. His teacher once explained that Jérémy would sometimes kneel during playtime just to keep up with his classmates.
That kind of difference is not always easy to carry. Jérémy admits he sometimes wishes he could disappear into anonymity, to walk into a room without drawing stares. ‘I wish I was 1.80 metres,’ he has said. Yet he also knows that his height is part of who he is, and part of what allows him to do what he loves.
7’5 8th grader Jeremy Gohier is unstoppable @MSHTVOfficial pic.twitter.com/39CoNUQ48h
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) September 23, 2025
Learning the game before dominating it
Basketball was an obvious path, but not an effortless one. Despite being younger than most of his peers, Jérémy represented Canada at the AmeriCup U16 last summer, playing against opponents up to two years older. Canada reached the final, losing heavily to the United States.
Individually, his statistics were modest. He averaged 2.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and limited minutes on court. Yet coaches consistently praise his work ethic and competitiveness. Against players his own age, he is described as virtually unplayable. Against older, stronger opponents, he is learning patience, positioning and resilience.
Like many young players, he studies the greats. His idols include Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, not just for their size, but for their intelligence and adaptability on the court.
Height runs in the family, but not this much
Interestingly, Jérémy’s parents are of average height. His father stands at 1.83 metres, his mother at 1.70. However, taller figures appear elsewhere in the family tree, including a grandfather measuring 1.96 metres and another relative reaching 2.10. These factors helped specialists understand that Jérémy’s growth, while extreme, follows a genetic pattern rather than a medical disorder.
His mother admits she hopes he does not reach 2.50 metres. Managing daily life already comes with challenges, from finding clothes to fitting into cars. Basketball courts may be built for tall players, but the world beyond them rarely is.
A future that stretches even higher
Looking ahead, Canadian basketball could one day field an imposing interior pairing. Jérémy may eventually line up alongside Olivier Rioux, currently listed at 2.35 metres and playing for the Florida Gators in the NCAA.
For now, Jérémy remains a teenager navigating school, growth spurts and expectations. His journey is a reminder that extraordinary height, youth development, elite potential, physical difference and mental resilience all intersect in complex ways.
The numbers are astonishing, but the real story lies in how a young person learns to live comfortably inside such an extraordinary frame.
