Fitness Testing > Tests > Speed & Power > Vertical Jump > Scores

Vertical Jump Test Results

What is it?

The vertical jump test is a common fitness test of leg power. The test is usually performed against a wall or similar device to measure the height jumped, but can also be tested using a timing mat. These results are assumed to be using the counter-movement technique, in which the arms are used to help propel the body upwards, though in many cases it may not be the case. For more information, see vertical jump techniques.

Top Scores

The world record vertical jump has been reported as up to 61" (155 cm) by Kadour Ziani (other reports for top leaps for Kadour range from 56"/142cm upwards). He is the highest Vertical Leaper from Slamnation, and stands 5'10 tall. His other claim to fame is that he is the only person ever-ever to do a double windmill slam dunk. His best vertical jump is more than twice the average NBA vertical leap of 28" (71 cm). For more information about the world record scores, see our list of the World's Best vertical jump scores.

Basketball

The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2012 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 38 inches (96.5 cm) by Harrison Barnes (see more 2012 NBA combine results).
The best vertical jump (no step) result from the 2011 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 36.5 inches (92.7 cm) by Iman Shumpert (see more 2011 NBA combine results).
The best vertical (no step) result from the 2010 NBA pre-draft combine camp was 32 inches (81.3 cm) by Wesley Johnson (see more 2010 NBA combine results).
Scots College student Brock Dries has just been selected for the New South Wales team in the National Championships, and was tested two feet vertical jump test, where he recorded a 75cm (29.5 inches) vertical leap (retrieved from The Scots College website, Feb 2011).
Darrell Griffith of the Utah Jazz in the 80’s had record standing vertical leap of 48 inch. I think that David Thompson of the Denver Nuggest in the 80’s had vertical leap between 44 – 48 inch.(ref: unconfirmed details from a visitor to this site)
Darryl McDonald of the Melbourne Tigers NBL team has a 74 cm vertical jump off three steps. This is the best of Tiger guards (taken from the Age online, 12 Jan 08).
An article about big jumpers includes David "Skywalker" Thompson. They say that various reports put his vertical jump at 44 to 48 inches (foxsports.com, Oct 2007).
The top 5 vertical jump (no step) results from the 2006 NBA draft camp were 37.5 inches Dwayne Mitchell, 35.0 Ronnie Brewer, 35.0 Curtis Withers, 35.0 Will Blalock, and 34.5 David Noel. (see more NBA draft results).
The average NBA vertical leap is 28" (71 cm).
Below is a list of some of the reported top scores by a variety of NBA players. These results have not been confirmed. Some of these scores were sourced from Vertcoach.com.

Player:	Vertical Leap:
Michael Jordan	48" (122 cm)
Darrell Griffith	48" (122 cm)
Spudd Webb	46"
Dee Brown	44"
Harold Miner	44"
Vince Carter	43"
Steve Francis	43"
Antonio McDyess	42"
Dominique Wilkins	42"
Allen Iverson	41" (104 cm)
Dr. J	41"
Julius Erving	41"
Shawn Kemp	40" (102 cm)
Larry Nance	40"
Rex Chapmann	39"
Kobe Bryant	38"
Desmond Mason	38"
Ralph Sampson	36"
Daryl Dawkins	34"
Shaquille Oneal	32"
Lamar Odom	32"
Magic Johnson	30"
Karl Malone	28"
Larry Bird	28"

NFL

Christine Michael, a running back from Texas A&M had the highest vertical jump at the 2013 NFL combine, jumping 43 inches (109 cm).
V. Green from Nevada had the best result at the 2011 NFL Combine, with a 42.5 inch (108 cm) vertical jump.
New York Jets rookie Darrelle Revis has a 38-inch vertical jump this year (NY Times, Oct 2007).
Randy Moss has a vertical leap score of 51" (130 cm), while 265 lbs Jevon Kearse has a best jump of 40" (102 cm).
The best vertical jump at the NFL Combine is 46" by Gerald Sensabaugh (FS), from North Carolina in 2005 (more NFL combine results).

Volleyball

The father of Tuioti-Mariner of the Hawaii Warriors (NFL) competed in volleyball at the South Pacific Games, and had a 45-inch vertical jump (from the Honolulu Advertiser, March 2008).
Leonel Marshall reportedly has a 50" (127 cm) vertical leap from standing. He is the star of Men's Cuban National Volleyball team. Search for him on YouTube and you will see some sensational jumping action of him.

Ice Hockey

The best score at the 2012 NHL scouting combine for the vertical jump test was 32.5 inches (82.6 cm) by Chris Calnan of Nobles (HIGH-MA). The average score from the combine was 24.7 inches (62.7 cm) (see the top 2012 NHL combine results)
The best score at the 2011 NHL scouting combine for standing vertical jump (no pause) was 30.5 inches (77.5 cm) by Maximilien Le Sieur of the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) (see 2011 NHL combine results)
The average vertical jump recorded at the NHL entry draft scouting combine over the last few years has been 26.1 inches / 66.3 cm (2009), and 24.7 inches / 62.7 cm (2011). (see NHL combine results summary)

Rugby

USA Rugby Sevens Coach Al Caravelli defined his ideal Rugby 7s player - among other physical attributes, he should be able to vertical jump 35 inches / 89 cm (retrieved from boxscorenews.com, Feb 2011).
Average of Newcastle Knights squad (n=66) was 68 cm (range 47 - 79 cm) (personal communication, Lee Clark). There are more fitness test results from the Newcastle Knights).
The Springboks in 2007 expected scores for the vertical jump ranged from at least 68 cm for the outside backs down to 55 cm for the props (more on Springboks norms).

Aussie Rules Football

A new record was set for the vertical jump test at the 2012 AFL Draft Combine of 85 cm (33.5 inches) by Dean Towers, beating the long-standing high mark of 83 cm set by former Hawk Trent Croad in 1997. See more 2012 results.
The best result in the vertical jump test at the 2011 Draft Combine was 78 cm by Elliot Yeo. See more 2011 results.
The AFL held a testing combine in Tonga in December 2010, testing 55 local youngsters which some impressive results. In the Vertical Jump component, Fijian Wilson Kacivi top scored with 75 cm. (from AFL.com, Dec 2010)
An article in the Perth Sunday Times listed the fitness requirements for a range of sports. It stated that West Coast Eagles players need to jump more than 60 cm in the vertical jump (from The Sunday Times, Jan 10, 2010).
Brett Deledio, AFL footballer from Richmond, scored 76 cm on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).
The vertical jump test is performed at the Draft Camp each year. Some of the best results are: Trent Croad 83 cm in 1997 and David Gourdis 81 cm in 2007, See more draft camp results.

Athletics

US Decathlete Bryan Clay reached 43.5 inches for a no-step vertical jump during a SPARQ testing exercise. He also achieved 42.3 for the one-step vertical jump and 11 feet 1 inch for the max VJ test (testing conducted at Azusa Pacific University, March 25th 2005, published in SPARQ Magazine, Summer 2008).
Sean Wroe, Australian Olympic 400m sprinter, scored 85 cm (33.5 inches) on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Cricket

Pakistani cricketer Misbahul Haq holds the team record for vertical jump of 70 cm (from the Match Point blog on the Express Tribune online, March 2011)

Jockey / Horse Racing

Michael Rodd, Melbourne Cup winning jockey, scored 55 cm on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Triathlon

Erin Densham, Olympic Triathlete, scored 35 cm on her vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Weight lifting

Some impressive vertical jump results are presented for a couple of quite heavy champion weight lifters. Nicu Vlad of Romania (bodyweight 100 kg / 220 lbs), World Record holder and two-time Olympic Weight lifting medallist in 1990, recorded a 42" vertical jump. American Wesley Barnett, 3-time Olympian and Silver Medallist at the 1997 World Championships (he is 6'1" tall and weighs 105 kg / 231 lbs), has recorded vertical jumps of over 39". (data from an article "Pulling To Jump Higher" by Chad Ikei).

Rowing

Drew Ginn, Australian Olympic rower, scored 53 cm on his vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Cycling

Peta Mullens, Australian cyclist, scored 47 cm on her vertical jump test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Other Results

Some of these scores were sourced from Vertcoach.com. There are numerous and varying reports of high leaps for Kadour Ziani online.

Player:	Sport / team	Vertical Leap:
Kadour Ziani	Slamnation	somewhere between 56"-61" (142-155 cm)
Reggie Thompson	Jumpsoles	56"
Michael Wilson	Globetrotters	51"
Ronnie Fields	CBA	48"
Melvin Levett		45"
Brandon Dean	NCAA	39"

procedure for Vertical Jump Testing and using the Timing Mat method
vertical jump devices in the fitness testing store
About vertical jump techniques
converting results to power units and converting results from cm to inches
Top vertical jump scores
Vertical Jump Norms
More Scores? I scan the internet for the latest athlete results. If you know of something I have missed, I would love to hear from you.