Footage of 10-year-old basketball player dubbed 'the new Shaq' goes viral with youngster already 6ft 5in tall

A video of a 10-year-old basketball player who towers over his fellow school-age opponents has gone viral.

The video shows Archange Railey Lemovou in action during a youth basketball tournament in America.

Posted to the X account BallisLife, the video has already been viewed more than 10 million times.

Standing 6ft 5ins and weighing over 200lbs, Lemouvou has been daubed 'Baby Shaq' for his resemblance of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal.

The imposing youngster has also been called "the most dominant 10-year-old hooper of all time".

10 YEAR OLD Archange Railey Lemovou is already 6'5" pic.twitter.com/S5IvfPaP0S

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 10, 2024

It is not only the opposition the pre-teen is seen towering above, either. He also appears to stand several inches taller than his coach.

But is not just Lemovou's physical presence that stands out in the footage.

The hoop hopeful also shows impressive skills with the ball in his hands.

He is shown taking the ball the full length of the court before hitting a slam dunk at the rim, posting up smaller opponents close to the basket and showing strong defensive instincts to block shots.

Lemovou, of course, still has a very long way to go before he can emulate Shaq, the player he is nicknamed after.

The former Orlando Magic, LA Lakers and Miami Heat icon was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 1999-2000 season and won four championships in his career, as well as thee Finals MVP awards.

Regarded as the most dominant big man of all time, O'Neal averaged 23.7 points and 10.9 rebounds across his storied career. The 7ft 1ins centre was also a 15-time All-Star and has seen his jersey retired with three different teams.

Yet there is one aspect of the game in which Lemovou already appears to have O'Neal beaten.

The viral video shows the sky-high 10-year-old confidently swishing three-point shots, a key skill in modern basketball.

Shaq, however, was never so proficient from behind the three-point line.

He attempted just 22 three pointers across 19 seasons in the NBA. Only one of them went in.