D.J. Stephens might not be at the top of most teams' NBA Draft wish lists, but he opened some eyes when he recorded a 46-inch vertical while working out for the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. That's the highest mark ever measured by the NBA, according to ESPN's Chad Ford.
NBA Draft 2013: D.J. Stephens reportedly logs record 46-inch vertical jump
The Memphis swingman opened some eyes while working out for the Brooklyn Nets.
Gregory Shamus
The Memphis swingman bested Kenny Gregory's 45.5-inch leap from 2001 and did so less than a week after Miami's Shane Larkin recorded a 44-inch vertical.
As Stephens, who is just 6’5, fights to make his case to NBA teams, his new record might help counteract his lack of size.
Stephens’ production grew steadily throughout four years with the Tigers, though he did not average more than 11.2 minutes per game until his senior season. In a more prominent role this year, he averaged 7.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per contest, though he was probably known better for his jaw-dropping dunks.
DraftExpress does not currently project Stephens to be drafted — but even if that turns out to be the case, his freakish athleticism could inspire a team to take a chance on him at some point. If you want to see how that record-setting vertical translates into a live game, look no further than this video:
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