Air to the throne

King James adds gem to crown with slam dunk title

LeBron may be showing off this move next year at the NBA dunk contest. AP

CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James soared high enough to dazzle a former NBA slam dunk champion and landed with a McDonald's All-American dunk title to add to his ever-growing list of accolades.

But King James' crowning wasn't without a little more of the controversy that has surrounded him all season.

James, the likely No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft, did a little dance before his first dunk in the final round as the audience cheered the hometown favorite, who over the weekend helped Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School win its third state title in four years.

James took off from the sideline, drove under the basket, double-clutched and slammed it in.

His head was well over the rim on his second dunk, another two-hand slam.

"LeBron just jumped so high," said contest judge and former Cleveland Cavaliers star Larry Nance, who won the NBA slam dunk contest in 1984. "He got up over the rim. People in high school aren't supposed to be able to jump so high."

On James' final dunk, he tossed the ball in the air, grabbed it just above the rim and stuffed it.

His 250 points out of a possible 270 in the final round were enough to beat Von Wafer of Cleveland, Texas, who had 246 points.

But the crowd booed after James was announced the winner, possibly because Shannon Brown, of Maywood, Ill., won them over with a dunk that brought several of the nine contest judges to their feet, including Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

Brown, who is headed to Michigan State, walked out beyond half court raising his arms for the audience of 2,000 at Woodling Gymnasium at Cleveland State University.

He drove, leaping from just inside the foul line, did a 360 degree spin with the ball raised high over his head and threw down a right-handed slam.

Vick stood smiling, holding two "10" scorecards in the air.

Brown was awarded a perfect 90 for the dunk, but scored only 167 points because he got a zero for missing a less difficult dunk on his first two attempts.

James didn't comment on the boos afterward, saying only that it was great to be in competition with such high-caliber talent.

He's wearing jersey No. 32 for the McDonald's All-American game because his usual No. 23 was retired in honor of Michael Jordan.

In the first round, James stood just beyond the 3-point arc, tossed the ball off the backboard and slammed it in with two hands. His next dunk was similar, but ended with a one-hand stuff.

But it was J.R. Giddens of Oklahoma City who delivered the biggest crowd-pleaser in the first round with a between-the-legs dunk. For his second slam, he cradled the ball in his arm like a football and slammed it home.

"He looks like he should be in the NBA," Vick said.

Brittany Hunter became the first female to compete in the McDonald's slam dunk contest, drawing cheers as she took the floor.

The 6-foot-4 power forward from Columbus, Ohio, was unable to slam it in after three attempts. Hunter jumped high enough on the last two tries but the ball banged off the back of the rim.

Also judging were Cavaliers players Darius Miles, Dajuan Wagner, Carlos Boozer and DeSagana Diop -- all former McDonald's All-Americans.

Ivory Latta of York, S.C., won the girls 3-point competition, scoring 18 points in the first round and 17 in the second.

Michael Jones of Braintree, Mass., topped all competitors with 20 points in the final round of the boys 3-point competition to win.

Brian Butch of Appleton, Wis., and Erin Lawless of Berwyn, Ill., won the team ball competition.

 

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