HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS
For over seven decades, the Harlem Globetrotters have impacted the sport of basketball around the world. The Globetrotters were instrumental in the development of the fast-break offense, the slam dunk, the development of a scouting system to recruit players, and introduced the figure-eight "weave" offense. Recently, the Globetrotters have amazed fans by setting world records in the vertical slam dunk, climbing to seemingly impossible heights. Listed below are the incredible heights the Harlem Globetrotters have reached in the vertical dunk. Keep in mind that a regulation basketball hoop stands at 10-feet.

MARCH 30, 2001:
Michael "Wild Thing" Wilson of the Globetrotters attempts to break his own world record in the vertical dunk that he set a year earlier during Final Four Weekend. This year Wilson was not alone in his attempt to break the 12-foot barrier during Final Four Weekend, as three of the nation's top college seniors were invited to challenge the record with Wilson during halftime of the NABC All-Star Game at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Wilson narrowly misses dunking on a basket set at 12 feet, one inch. Each player was given three attempts at each height before being eliminated. Terry Black of Baylor University, Tarvis Williams of Hampton College, and David Walker from the University of Alabama-Birmingham all dunked successfully at 10 feet, six inches. Black dunked at 11 feet, but was eliminated when the basket was raised to 11 feet, six inches. Williams successfully dunked at 11 feet, six inches on his third attempt, but could go no higher. The Globetrotters' Wilson dunked on his first attempt at each height before failing to make the 12 foot, one inch mark.

APRIL 1, 2000:
During halftime of the NABC All-Star Game, Michael "Wild Thing" Wilson breaks his own world record in the vertical slam dunk by successfully dunking on a 12-foot basket. The event, which took place at Indianapolis' Conseco Fieldhouse, marked the Harlem Globetrotters' first-ever appearance at Final Four Weekend. Wilson's record dunk was captured and televised nationally on Fox Sports Net. See the amazing dunk on our Video Archive page by Clicking Here.

FEBRUARY 27, 1998:
Before a live national television audience on ABC's "Good Morning America," Michael "Wild Thing" Wilson and Fred "Preacher" Smith attempt to set a new world record for the vertical slam dunk at 12-feet. However, they both fall short in breaking their own record. The event took place at the Reebok Sports Club/NY.

OCTOBER 25, 1997:
Michael "Wild Thing" Wilson and Fred "Preacher" Smith establish a new world record of 11 feet, 11 inches as part of Warner Brothers' "Space Jam Tour" in Birmingham, England. The dunk was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

AUGUST 30, 1997:
Guinness Book of World Records acknowledges new record of 11 feet, 10 inches by Michael "Wild Thing" Wilson and Fred "Preacher" Smith in Dusseldorf, Germany, as part of "Space Jam Tour."

MARCH 2, 1997:
Michael "Wild Thing" Wilson soared to 12 feet, 2 inches at the Los Angeles Forum, however it was an unofficial attempt at the world record.

FEBRUARY 16, 1997:
Sean "Elevator" Williams and Fred "Preacher" Smith successfully dunked at 12 feet at New York's Madison Square Garden, however it was an unofficial attempt at the world record.

JANUARY 25, 1997:
At Minneapolis' Target Center, Michael "Wild Thing" Wilson and Sean "Elevator" Williams successfully dunked at 12 feet, however it was an unofficial attempt at the world record.

SEPTEMBER 16, 1996:
Michael "Wild Thing" Wilson and Sean "Elevator" Williams establish new record of 11 feet, 8 inches at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla. The old mark was 11 feet, 7 inches, held by former Arizona State University guard Joey Johnson.