He was 12 years old and playing in his first-ever organized basketball game. Brazil's Maybyner "Nene" Hilario had a problem. While he was an accomplished soccer player and a competitive swimmer in his hometown of São Carlos, he didn't have the first clue about this curious new sport. "Every time, I fouled," Hilario says through an interpreter. "In five minutes, I fouled out of the game."

Hilario had another issue: Nobody would pass him the basketball. His teammates feared their friend wouldn't know whether to kick the ball or deflate it. As recently as one year ago, he was having foul problems. "Maybe I'm too big," he said. Just maybe.

Hilario's nickname, Nene, is Portuguese for "baby," because he is the youngest of three children. But Nene has grown into a pretty imposing 19-year-old: 6'10", 260 pounds, 4% body fat and an almost 7 1/2-foot wingspan. And while he is still learning the game after just two years of professional and international competition, his athleticism has him being compared to a pre-Wendy's drive-thru Shawn Kemp.

How far has he come? Just four years ago, Hilario received his first-ever pair of real basketball shoes. Just days from now, he'll become the first Brazilian with a real chance to make an impact in the NBA.

This article appears in the June 24 issue of ESPN The Magazine.