The Vertical Leap is a test given to NFL prospects to judge how high a player can jump off the ground from a standstill. It is important to know that the Vertical Leap is not taken with a headstart or a running head start. The Vertical Leap is often exaggerated by people because their numbers are actually with a running head start.

Some players have been known to cheat the Vertical Leap by not completely complying with the baseline tests of when they ask you to first stand and stretch out upwards. Sometimes they call this "shrugging shoulders" in order to make it appear that their center of gravity, and their overall elevation is actually greater than it really is.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, they use a special patented device (United States Patent 5031903) that has 14 inch rotating tabs that are suspended from a big metal post similar to a basketball backboard. These tabs are placed at around half an inch from each other vertically.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chad Ochocinco

Vertical Leap: 40"

 

 

Michael Jordan Vertical Leap: 48" Standing Reach: 8'10"

Highest Touch: 12'5"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Randy Moss Vertical Leap: 39"

 

 

Kobe Bryant Vertical Leap: 38" Standing Reach: 8'10"

Highest Touch: 12'0"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miles Austin

Vertical Leap: 40.5"

 

LeBron James Vertical Leap: 44"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andre Johnson

Vertical Leap: 41"

 

 

 

Vince Carter Vertical Leap: 43" Standing Reach: 8'11"

Highest Touch:12'6"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gerald Sensabaugh

Vertical Leap: 46"

 

 

Karl Malone Vertical Leap: 28" Standing Reach: 9'2" Highest Touch: 11'6"

Shaq Vertical Leap: 32" Standing Reach: 9'8" Highest Touch: 12'4"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Francis Vertical Leap: 43" Standing Reach: 8'5"

Highest Touch: 12'3"

Antonio McDyess Vertical Leap:42" - -

Allen Iverson Vertical Leap:41"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shawn Kemp Vertical Leap: 40"

Rex Chapmann Vertical Leap:39" - -

Desmond Mason Vertical Leap: 38" - -

Lamar Odom Vertical Leap: 32" - -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Pierce Vertical Leap: 38"

Shawn Marion Vertical Leap: 41"

Carmelo Anthony Vertical Leap: 41"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DeMarcus Ware

Vertical Leap: 38.5"

 

 

Ricky Davis Vertical Leap: 42"

Tracy McGrady Vertical Leap: 42"

Nate Robinson Vertical Leap: 43"

Jason Richardson Vertical Leap: 46"

James White Vertical Leap: 46"

Harold Miner Vertical Leap: 44"

Steve Francis Vertical Leap: 43"

Fred Jones Vertical Leap: 42"

 

Michael Jordan 48" (Chicago) 8'10" 12'5"
Dominique Wilkins 42" 9'0" 12'6"
Larry Bird 28" 9'1" 11'5"
Dr. J 41" 8'11" 12'4"
Spudd Webb 46" 7'4" 11'2"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daryl Dawkins 34" 9'4" 12'2"
Dee Brown 44" - -
Harold Miner 44" - -
Julius Erving 43" - -
Larry Nance 40" - -
Ralph Sampson 36" - -
Karl Malone 28"

Magic Johnson 30"

 

 

Shawn Kemp 40"

 

Jacob Tucker Vertical Leap Jump 50"