The 2026 AWS NBA Draft Combine will take place from May 10–17, 2026, in Chicago.
Over the last 25 years of the NBA Draft Combine, a total of 1,795 players have participated in the event’s strength and agility testing. Only 129 of those players (7.19%) have registered a maximum vertical leap of at least 40 inches.
Below is a look at the prospects who had the highest leaps measured at the NBA Draft Combine.
Note: Not all NBA players have participated in the NBA Draft Combine and these results only include Combine participants.
1. Keon Johnson: 48.0 Inches (2021)
Topping the list with the highest max vertical leap on record is Keon Johnson, who played at Tennessee before being selected with the 21st overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks before being traded on draft night to the LA Clippers. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard has played a total of 161 NBA games with the Clippers, Trail Blazers, and Nets (last appearing in 2024-25) and most recently played for the G League’s Maine Celtics.
Keon Johnson posted the highest vertical leap in NBA Draft Combine history in 2021.
2. Kenny Gregory: 45.5 Inches (2001)
Before Johnson took over the high mark in 2021, Kenny Gregory’s leap of 45.5 inches in the 2001 Draft Combine (the first event in event’s database) stood for two decades as the leap to beat. Gregory, a 6-foot-4 small forward out of Kansas, went undrafted in 2001. He signed with the G League’s Greenville Groove before finishing his career overseas.
3. Jericho Sims: 44.5 Inches (2021)
The tallest player on the vertical leap leaderboard is 6-foot-10 center Jericho Sims, who played at Texas before being selected with the 58th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. After playing three-plus seasons with the Knicks, including an appearance in the 2023 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, Sims was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in February 2025. Sims appeared in 67 games for the Bucks during the 2025-26 season, posting career-highs of 5.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game.
4. Hamidou Diallo: 44.5 Inches (2017)
Sims is not the only AT&T Slam Dunk Contest participant on this list. Hamidou Diallo, a 6-foot-6 wing, participated in both the 2017 and 2018 Draft Combines before being selected with the 45th overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets. Two weeks later, his draft rights were traded to Oklahoma City, where he began his pro career. During his rookie season, Diallo showcased his leaping ability and creativity by winning the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star weekend. He played a total of 265 NBA games between the Thunder, Pistons, and Wizards – while also playing for their G League affiliates – before continuing his career overseas.
5. Cassius Stanley: 44 Inches (2020)
After playing one season at Duke, Cassius Stanley declared for the NBA Draft and posted a 44-inch maximum vertical leap at the Draft Combine. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard would go on to be selected with the 54th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. Playing on a two-way contract, Stanley participated in the 2021 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, but was eliminated in the opening round. After appearing in a total of 33 games between the Pacers and Pistons, Stanley played two more seasons in the G League before continuing his career overseas.
6. Kay Felder: 44 Inches (2016)
While Sims is the tallest player on this leaderboard, Felder is the shortest at 5-foot-9. The point guard out of Oakland University recorded a 44-inch vertical leap at the 2016 Draft Combine – then tied for the second-highest mark on record – and was later selected with the 54th overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks and traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on draft night. Felder appeared in a total of 58 NBA games between the Cavaliers, Bulls, and Pistons, while also playing for their respective G League affiliates, before continuing his career overseas.
Pat Connaughton posted a 44-inch vertical leap at the 2015 NBA Draft Combine.
7. Pat Connaughton: 44 Inches (2015)
Of the high-flyers on this leaderboard, Pat Connaughton has had the longest NBA career. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard just completed his 11th NBA season and has won an NBA title (2021) and NBA Cup (2024) during his seven-season run with the Milwaukee Bucks. Before his NBA career began, the Notre Dame product lit up the NBA Draft Combine with a 44-inch vertical leap in 2015 – matching the second-highest mark on record at the time. He was drafted 41st overall by the Brooklyn Nets before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers on draft night. After three seasons in Portland, he signed with the Bucks as a free agent. In addition to being a key player on the Bucks championship team, Connaughton represented the team at the 2020 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, registering one perfect 50 before being eliminated. After a seven-year run in Milwaukee, Connaughton played the 2025-26 season with the Charlotte Hornets.
8. Shane Larkin: 44 Inches (2013)
After playing two seasons at the University of Miami, Shane Larkin declared for the NBA Draft and had a strong showing at the Draft Combine. The 5-foot-11 point guard showed off his elevation with a 44-inch vertical leap, becoming only the second player to leap 44 inches or higher in the event’s recorded history. He was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks later that night. Larkin played four NBA seasons – one each with Dallas, New York, Brooklyn, and Boston – appearing in a total of 256 NBA games before continuing his career overseas.
Leave a Reply