Error processing SSI fileWest Michigan hoops star stands above the rest
Allyssa DeHaan, who is 6 feet 8 1/2 inches tall, averages 23.2 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks for Grandville High. She calls her height a blessing. "I love it. That is who I am. God made me this way. ..."Here's how Allyssa DeHaan's height (6 feet 8 inches) rates with some pro basketball players:
• Tallest, WNBA: Margo Dydek, 7 feet 2 inches
• Shortest, WNBA: Temeka Johnson, 5 feet 3 inches
• Tallest, Pistons: Darko Milicic, 7 feet
• Tallest, Shock: Kara Braxton, 6 feet 7 inches
Note: Dydek is the only WNBA player taller than DeHaan.
DeHaan, a 17-year-old senior at Grandville High, plans to attend Michigan State and pursue a degree in medicine.
Comment on this story
Children ran from all over town to marvel at the tall girl with the big heart. They watched Allyssa DeHaan churn cement for six hours in scorching, 110-degree heat, the sun pounding down relentlessly.
They watched in awe as she reached skyward to paint molding on the top of the home, which was no bigger than a two-car garage.
When she took a break, the children ran around her, and some swung from her arms as if she were a playground jungle gym.
And they laughed at the odd sight of a 6-foot-8 girl holding hands with a 3-year-old while jumping together on a trampoline.
The kids shouted in Spanish, "How tall are you?"
She answered in Spanish as she continued to help her church group build a house in an old landfill in Chihuahua, Mexico, during the summer.
For the record, DeHaan says she's 6 feet 8 1/2 inches tall -- and proud of every inch.
A senior at Grandville High, the 17-year-old is the leading candidate to win the Miss Basketball Award, given annually to the top high school basketball player in the state.
DeHaan is averaging 23.2 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks a game for Grandville. She already has committed to Michigan State, but it's obvious that her passion runs deeper than basketball.
"She has a tremendous amount of respect about life," Grandville coach Charlie DeRyke said. "She understands basketball is a tremendous part of her life, but it is not the only thing in life.
"As coaches and players, we get carried away with that and it is hard to put things in perspective. It's not for her. She gives a great effort, but she has a great grip on what is important in her life."
Life's playbook
DeHaan's passion to help others is so strong that she didn't play much basketball this summer.
Instead, she spent a week near Juarez, Mexico -- across the border from El Paso, Texas -- helping build a new home for the Suarez-Carranza family, which lost their 7-year old son, Jesus, in a house fire. The trip humbled DeHaan and added perspective in her life.
"It made me appreciate everything I have back here, especially my family," said DeHaan, who used to battle with her 13-year-old brother, Collin, over petty issues.
"The family we built this house for, they lost their house in a fire and they also lost their son. I learned to really appreciate family, especially my brother. We didn't always get along but our relationship is definitely building now, and I feel so much more grateful for him and my family and everything I have in Michigan now."
Said Tracie DeHaan, Allyssa's mother: "As a parent, it is good to see a kid get excited about reaching out toward another community and do something for other people. When she was there, I was really worried about her because it was out of the country. But when she returned, she said she was not ready to return."
Family affair
Being tall is a commonality when it comes to the DeHaans.
It starts with mom, who is 6-4 and played basketball at Northwestern. Dad, Brandon, is 6-6.
Collin is 6-5 -- and he's only in eighth grade at Grandville Middle School. He grew 10 inches in two years, and doctors say he could hit 7-0 before his growth spurt ends.
Allyssa DeHaan doesn't always enjoy the attention she receives for being 6-8 1/2 , but she understands.
"It is a blessing," she said. "I love it. That is who I am. God made me this way, so I am excited. It is definitely an advantage, especially in sports."
Not so much when it comes to shopping for clothes, though.
She has a 38-inch inseam and wears a size 14 shoe. She takes advantage of the trend of wearing long and baggy clothes, although those clothes don't look long and baggy on her.
The sleeves, for instance, are three-quarters length. She simply rolls them up and looks like a typical teenager -- who happens to be a foot taller than most.
Luckily, the DeHaans have found a company on the Internet that specializes in clothing for tall women. And, they've also come across Web sites where women talk of being tall.
"I am surprised how many women who are tall don't like being tall," Tracie DeHaan said. "I tell her that no matter how tall you are, you should be content and that is the way you were made."
All for one
DeHaan is a curiosity.
People often approach her, asking about the weather "up there" and making other silly comments.
It's mostly innocent, but the constant questions can get to her.
That's where the mother hens come in.
DeHaan's Lady Bulldogs teammates are very protective of her.
"We tell people she is 8 feet tall, and they are like 'Oh my God,'" senior guard Philana Green said. "And they believe us."
DeHaan mostly shrugs and moves on.
That's her demeanor -- sweet, gentle. It translates into her game, too.
She succeeds with her height, of course. But she is more of a finesse player. She admits she needs to be more aggressive on and off the court. But that is something that will come with maturity.
"There is a lot of attention directed her way, and sometimes you have enough attention and you want to focus on your job and what you have to do on the floor," her mother said.
"She is very comfortable with who she is, and she never has a word of regret of who she is and how tall she is.
"There are challenges in life, and we struggle through them together."
Family and faith are very important to the DeHaans. That's why tiny Cornerstone College in Grand Rapids and Division II Grand Valley State made the final cut, along with Michigan State, in Allyssa DeHaan's choice for a university.
Allyssa DeHaan eliminated schools that were too far away and did not offer medicine as a degree -- her career choice.
And, yes, she was content to play at Cornerstone if that was the best fit.
"I chose Michigan State because it not only is an opportunity to play in a great basketball program, but I feel like it is a perfect fit academically," DeHaan said. "I can pursue medicine and be a basketball player at the same time."
DeHaan looks at her watch and apologizes for having to go.
Practice begins in a few minutes, and she doesn't want to be late.
She rises from a bench down the hall from the main gym and joins teammates, trying to blend in the best way a 6-8 kid can.
You can reach Terry Foster at (313) 222-1494 or terry.foster@detnews.com.
Copyright © 2005
The Detroit News.
Use of this site indicates your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated 12/19/2002).