Illinois College graduate and 2011 Denny's College Slam Dunk Contest champion Jacob Tucker has signed with the Harlem Globetrotters. Tucker is one of 10 new players on the Globetrotters roster this fall and was one of five players to make an appearance on NBC's The Today Show on Friday morning in a segment with Hoda Kotb and Kim Kardashian.
Tucker will go by the nickname of “Hops” while playing for the Globetrotters. The Carlyle native was a four-year member of the Illinois College men's basketball team, where he scored more than 1,000 career points and was twice an all-conference selection.
“Becoming a Harlem Globetrotter is an unbelievable honor. At no point growing up did I ever think that would even be a possibility,” Tucker said. “I am proud to get the opportunity to represent the Harlem Globetrotters.”
Tucker will join the team along with nine other newcomers: Paul “Tiny” Sturgess, Jonte “Too Tall” Hall, Fatima “TNT” Maddox, John “Jet” Williams, Darnell “Spider” Wilks, Patrick “Flip” Atkins, Jermaine “Stretch” Middleton, Quade “Quake” Milum and Anthony “Biggie” McClain. The rookie class includes the world's tallest pro basketball player, the shortest Globetrotter in team history and the squad's first female player in nearly two decades.
“The Globetrotters are excited to welcome a new generation of stars to carry on the storied tradition of the world's most entertaining basketball team,” Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider said in a press release. “This year's rookie class features some of the most talented and promising players from across the world.”
Tucker gained instant fame when he posted a YouTube video highlighting his dunking ability last spring, which has since received more than four million views. The video caught the eye of organizers from the State Farm College Slam Dunk Contest and 3-Point Championships, who pitted Tucker against Lee University's Larriques “Rico” Cunningham in a popular vote held on Facebook to determine the eighth and final contestant in the Denny's Slam Dunk Contest. Tucker won the vote in landslide fashion, garnering nearly 90 percent of the votes cast.
Tucker then wowed the celebrity panel of judges at the dunk contest in Houston, Texas, earning a pair of perfect scores on his trademark high-flying dunks. That performance, which was televised on ESPN2, helped Tucker earn a spot on the Globetrotters roster.
Tucker will join Globetrotters stars “Special K” Daley, “Big Easy” Lofton, “Flight Time” Lang, “Dizzy” Grant and “Scooter” Christensen as they prepare for their 2012 World Tour. The North American leg of the tour will tip off on Dec. 26. Tucker is currently scheduled to be with the Globetrotters when they play in St. Louis on Jan. 6, although rosters for live events are always subject to change. Tickets are on sale at
www.harlemglobetrotters.com.
