The slam-dunk is a dream of every young basketball player. There’s not much skill involved for the taller players - just jump high and ram that orange ball through the hoop.

I was watching the NBA Slam Dunk competition this week. Oops, lets make that the “Sprite” Slam Dunk Competition. We don’t want to forget that carbonated sugar-water now. Kids, stick to milk. It WILL do your body good!

New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson made things interesting, jumping over the shoulders of defending champion, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic. That may sound like an average stunt. But, what I found interesting was that Robinson is only five-foot-nine inches tall. I’m taller than him, and I can barely touch the net. He’s a little guy in the NBA. That little guy jumped over a six-foot, 11-inch tall man. That’s like hurdling the front door of your house!

High School players are dunking the ball more and more these days. It gets the crowd going. Check out this photo of former Bishop Guertin star, Matt Farbotko dunking the ball against Londonderry High School. The picture was taken during the 2002-03 school year.

Freshmen and junior varsity players are not allowed to dunk in New Hampshire high school games - only varsity players. Those are the NHIAA rules.

I noticed Inside Prep Sports has a feature on a La Crosse, Wisconsin high school player who is a big jammer. Jimmy Whitehead of Aquinas High School is only six-foot-one and hanging on the rim! He’s being recruited heavily.

So the next time your toddler dunks his diaper in your garbage can, it may be a sign of his athletic future.

-Bob Hammerstrom

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