Justin Klepin was a big presence on the basketball court for Shelby Academy. Now, he has a chance to put his 7-foot height to work for Faulkner State College in Bay Minette, Gulf Shores, Ala.

FSC head basketball coach Jack Robertson has given Justin a full athletic scholarship.

A player who left Faulkner State for the University of Montevallo told Robertson about the 7-footer he had seen there.

Robertson said of the 300-pound Klepin, &8220;I think he&8217;s got a chance to be a real good player.&8221;

&8220;You would think being that large he would be awkward. But he&8217;s not. He&8217;s got athletic ability.&8221;

Of course, Robertson said he wants to drop about 25 pounds off Klepin&8217;s weight.

But he said of Klepin, &8220;He loves basketball. He&8217;s a student of the game.&8221;

Robertson noted that Klepin hasn&8217;t played basketball for a year now. But he said he believes Klepin could not only play basketball for the two-year Faulkner State College but elsewhere, as well.

He said Klepin is an A-B student.

Klepin&8217;s former high school basketball coach Dewayne Kervin said of the 7-footer, &8220;He was just a really good person. He played good solid basketball, was a team player &045; not selfish. He was enjoyable to coach.&8221;

Kervin said he did not know if Klepin could play college ball, &8220;But we thought he had a chance being as tall as he way.&8221;

Kervin said Klepin was a double digit rebounder and scorer with about 16 points and 12 rebounds a game.

Robertson is in his 35th year at Faulkner State College.

Klepin attended Shelby Academy between 2002-2005. He is the son of Rhonda Massey