NYTimes article about a TALL NBA referee
 

The Big Whistle - The N.B.A. Ref Kevin Cutler Is the Tall Guy - NYTimes.com

Presence certainly isn't about size, but it can be a positive factor...

I've stepped in to break up a couple almost-fights (taunting/words... everything leading up to the fight without actual contact yet)... I can tell you, if I was 6'8" 270 lbs, these altercations would have ended a lot quicker.

I've seen the guy work a couple DI games this year. He did seem a little larger than the usual officials.

Must be from SoCal
 

From the article:

"Cutler began refereeing as a hobby about eight years ago. He was discovered at a Los Angeles camp by Ed T. Rush, the N.B.A.’s former head of officiating, and began working in the D-League."

Or possibly he traveled to the camp in LA?

He played at Long Beach St and has a been a teacher in the LA area since.