Thursday, February 10th, 2011 at 12:17 pm  |  229 responses

Wanna Jump Higher?

Tell us what you’ll do with some added vertical and you could win a free pair of APL kicks.

Could you use a couple inches on your vertical leap? Trying to become a better shot blocker? Can you almost dunk, but just need a little help? We’ve got you covered.

This All-Star Weekend, Athletic Propulsion Labs will be releasing a new red colorway of their Concept 1s, pictured below, and SLAM is giving away a pair. The rules are simple: You think you deserve ‘em? Tell us why! Just drop a comment below explaining why you could use a few extra inches on your vertical leap, and APL will send the commenter with the best reason a pair of the jump-enhancing kicks, in your size. The sneakers say BANNED across the insole—and you should know why—and will only be released in very limited quantities. These retail at $300, so getting a pair for free should be pretty enticing.

So why do you need to jump higher? Check the pics of the kicks below, and comment away with your best answers. Good luck!



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  • Jamel

    Dear SLAM, Im big man for my high school basketball team. I have average jumping ablity and s

  • Yesse

    Before, i was able to jump higher and could almost dunk. Actually i dunked on a 10ft rim once last summer. After that my knees got the best of me and i have been trying to rehabilitate myself back ever since.

  • Slade Griffin

    I need these shoes because i am 30 now and losing some spring in my legs!!! Played high school ball and kind of got away from the sport for awhile due to work etc. I am 2 months away from having my first child (a boy) i got to get me hoops game back up so i can teach him some skills!!! Also my wife would kill me if i bought some $300 dollar kicks instead of diapers!!! lol Help ya boy out!!!

  • dawn

    I need these kicks because i love this beautiful game of basketball.

  • Ifonli Icould Bang

    Hi there,
    I am pretty tall 6’7. I play the wing for my high school and my friends make fun of me for not being able to dunk. I do box jumps and calf raises almost every single night but I still can’t slam!! I’m really embarrassed. I have a couple colleges looking at me but who wants a 6’7 guard who can’t dunk?! My parents can’t afford college, so a scholarship is my only chance. With a pair of APL’s I could reach my dream! Please help! Thanks

  • Basim TheDream

    Because I being 29 years old,6’2″ and 230lbs, never had the vertical jumping ability to dunk the ball. I am athletic enough(I play semi-pro football.) Do its not that. Giving me these sneakers and having them lift me the extra 2 inches I need to dunk would prove that your product works and I’d appear at all of your marketing events for free (excluding travel and lodging cost…) lol

  • http://www.slamonline.com Nafanator

    Hey SLAM, I need these kicks more than all these punks up here^^^. When I am going around my neighborhood helping children learn to read SLAM and play basketball they constantly ask to see me dunk. Now I’m about 2 or 3 inches away from doing this and making their dreams come true and a pair of these shoes would help me to do this for them! For the children, SLAM, for the children.

  • tomtom

    Hi, my name is kwame brown im sick of being 7ft tall and unable to dunk the basketball. These guys called mike n kobe are always bullying me and saying how much i suck. I really need those kicks, help me out slam! P.s. when u start a competition to win some passion n basketball iq think of me!

  • Think Tank

    I am 22, 6′ tall and I can dunk. I know I can jump, but I think the dunking is a byproduct of long arms and flexible shoulders. If these shoes actually do increase explosiveness and jumping ability then I still want them! Most people on this site loves basketball, shoes, and probably dunking too. We want these shoes.

    I am addicted to Nike gear, and I am about to go buy another overpriced pair once I figure out what I can afford and want. If I got these for free then I will send you a dunk mix and write an amateur guest shoe review. Thanks

  • Dallas

    My dream was to play college ball……my dream. I practiced 6 hours a day every day in highschool, and was pretty good, but got cut all FOUR YEARS!!…..Dreams dashed…….But I am dedicated…..Told by the coaches I would not ever play I kept going……Practiced for 3 years after highschool and walked onto a D1 school and made the team….elation! or should I say elevation. Only one from that graduating year to do that.

    So here is the jumper

    This march I have been invited to play in an alumni tournament in my highschool, with all of the highschool players and coaches from my year. And all of the coaches that cut me will be there.

    These shoes will help me do two things…..

    ..REDEMPTION….DOMINATION

    I can dunk when I have a lane, an extra inch or two and I will be doing it in peoples faces.

  • Josh Wagner

    Hey SLAM, my name is Josh Wagner. I am a freshman in college, playing NJCAA Basketball. I am only 5’9″ and I can grab rim two hands, but I just can’t quite dunk it yet. I’ve been doing jumping programs year after year and just can’t ever seem to get high enough to throw one down. In recent years, I had torn tendons in my ankle and needed to have surgery. It was hard to get my maximum vertical back. I’m pretty close and these could help a lot. My dream since 8th grade has been to dunk the ball. I’m trying to get a scholarship to play for a Division 2 school and with the help of these, maybe I could get where I want to go. I really appreciate it. Thanks SLAM.

  • BRI

    So I can be on the basketball court as what Khloe Kardashian is in real life…A MONSTER

  • sideburn2go

    I’m 5’6″ and my uncles and brother who I ball with are all between 6’3″ and 6’8″. In order to hold my own in games against them I have had to work on my vertical to improve my game. Since high school I have increased my vert from 28″ to 34″ but I am nearing the limit to what I am able to accomplish on my own. It would be great to throw down a dunk on a guy who is more than a foot taller than me, and a few more inches and I might actually be able to do it.

  • doyouwantmore

    I’m a youth pastor who has been playing basketball with the same group of high-risk teens for a while. Imagine their faces when I bust out a nice little two-handed slam after telling them for the last couple years that if you work hard you can do anything. They know I can almost throw down, and its become a running joke for them to watch me attempt to dunk. Please give me the chance to shock them out of their doubt.

  • drew

    Yo slam i need these shoes because recently ive had some ankle issues, second sprain this year! These kicks would give me the extra boost i need to give me an edge in my rec league games. Im 18 so this is my last year to try and win a title as a high school kid. also these sneakers look extra dope.

  • http://justjumphigher.com Colin

    Dear Slam, I am white. Therefore I need those shoes.

  • Glenn Loughran

    I haven’t played basketball in over 2 years because I really messed up my ankle playing a pickup game at my park. Not only did i grab a rebound, twist my ankle on the dude’s foot, but I also finished the game on one foot. Afterwards, my ankle ballooned up to a canteloupe and I tore some tendon along with severely spraining my ankle. It has been tough not being able to play, as I got older, recovery time has taken a lot longer. I would love to have a pair of these kicks to I could finally go back to the park and possibly throw one down. That’d be like riding off in the sunset. I know I won’t be able to play much any longer, so to go out with a bang would be great.
    I have been scared to mess up my ankle again and with this pair of kicks, maybe I could have one great day left.

  • Henry Larios

    i want these shoes i so could jump from california to china

  • hops

    i need these shoes to help me train, ive always wanted 2 dunkh, for skillz & bragging rigths

  • Balherett3

    SLAM, everybody’s seen guys pin shots and put people on poster, what makes everyone think the ladies don’t want to too? I’m not saying this will give me a 40inch leap. Beat having the oppurntunity to play in a way most women can’t(in the air)would be a rare feat.

  • Benny

    I live in Canada, on a small island on the west coast. Basktetball isn’t really that big here, and I hate that. I can grab the rim but am denied the ability to actually dunk. Just a few more inches. Please, please, give me just that little bit extra vertical, and I promise I will make Basketball here more exciting and show the people here why this sport is so amazing and should be watched and nourished.

  • Mateo Chang

    SLAM!
    I’m the point guard AND coach of my basketball team down in Brazil (where Nike shoes run you US$250-300 a pair, imagine how much these would cost if they even brought them down here). Although my dream has always been to dunk, I’ve always come up “short”. Despite the fact that I’ve never dunked before, lately, through intensive training, I have been basking in the pleasure of BLOCKING players taller than me (I’m 5’6″ btw). Straight DENYING these 6’3″+ self proclaimed “ballers”.. anyway, I would love a pair of these, not for dunking, but for the EXPLOSION it provides the wearer (according to another review, these shoes also help with driving, first-steps, general quickness on the court).. all this to say:

    Guys.. I want these shoes.. so I can go from yelling, “DENIED” when I block taller players to “BANNED B*TCH! – Go get your own pair!” heheh..

  • CheeseWhiz

    I’m 6’2, white and can dunk .. oh well ..

  • Etienne

    on every new team the coach figure out, who has the best airtime! and he ask always “Who here thinks they can jump higher than the goal posts”?

    and i say always “me”!!! and the coaches said that i am the worst in the team!
    but i tell them always that goalposts can’t jump!

    with these shoes…i will jump over the damn coach!:)

  • Spud Webb

    To Whom It May Concern,
    Since everyone else is writing one of these I might as try my hand at it. I’ve been short for as long as I remember but whenever people see me play they compliment me for being able to jump and having long arms. I’m 5’7 with a 6’2 wingspan, 23 years old so by now it is what it is. I’ve been grabbing the rim for about 5 years now and in that time I’ve sprained my knees 3 times, once requiring to have surgery. With these shoes, I’d combine them with Adidas sports undershirts and will post the video of my first dunk. All I need is to do it one time and I’d even give back the shoes so they can go to another deserving person who also wears a size 10 so they can live out their dream too. You know, the one where you are on a fastbreak and the defender thinks he can beat you to the basket but on your way your thinking about who to mail this poster to first. Thats the dream we all have.
    Thanks.

  • IDOT

    I lost my vertical when I injured my knee like a few years ago and I rehabbed like crazy to get some of my vert back but now I’m just a spot-up shooter. I wish I could have a taste of flying to the rim. That would be the closets thing toward getting to heaven.

  • Taranvir

    The reason I need these shoes is because they were made for me. I’m too short and with these I could finally atleast touch the rim. My cousins are also very tall and they use this against me. So with these shoes, it would make my basketball life easier. I could finally fly :D .

  • http://Google.com Grant

    Thi kid in my school thinks he is better than everyone else because he can dunk, I’m really close to dunking but I just can’t get. This kid bullies other kids around and if showed him I could dunk it would shut him up. Pleeeeeeaaaaaaassssseee!!!!!!!!!

  • http://Google.com Grant

    Dear slam, I also want these sneakers because I’ve been working on my jump but since I’m just a freshman everyone blocking me and rebounding right over me. You never know what doors will open for me if I get these sneaks.

  • Jerry

    I’m going to give Blake Griffin a taste of his own medicine.

  • Andrew Cassidy

    Slam,

    I am veteran serving in Iraq right now. I am working out everyday on my game and I am still a little short on the dunk end. 5’11 and 185 but still my vertical leap is only to the front of the rim. With these shoes not only will my defense and jump shot be perfect but I might actually be able to throw one down which is something I have never done before. I play in a league out here for fun with all the troops and if my game could be taken into another level I might be a dominator in the league. I have attended combines wit at home and pursuing a career overseas when I am done here. I would love to own a pair of APL concept 1. I have been following them through your website and love to see if these guys really work and what they could do for me ! I hope to win these awesome limited version red APL concept 1′s ! Thank You APL, keep up the good work !

  • Reo

    Hi Slam, I’m in the 7th grade of my school. I am 5’10 and the tallest person on my team. We are all in the 7th grade except for one kid but he is really short. We have the skill but not the height. We are going to zones as the underdogs and I could use the extra couple inches of vertical to help push my team to victory.

  • chase

    With a pair of those I might hit my head on the rim http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0VIe54iPVg

  • Daniel Nunez

    I’m 5’7 and i have always wondered what it feels like to throw down a monster jam. I play ball everyday but only seem to be able to get a little bit of the rim. It would be really cool to get an alley oop pass from some of my good friends so it would help me by giving me the right amount of hop to get me able to put the ball in the rim. Thanks

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2010/12/whats-my-name-39/ Mark

    I need some APL’s because girls like a guy that can dunk and if I had those shoes, they could really help me step up my game.In more ways than one!

  • LA Huey

    I’m [insert height around average for an American male] and a [insert race stereotyped as lacking the ability to jump]. Please give me a crutch to replace my weak excuses!

  • http://slamonline.com Ali Yusuf

    Hello Slam,

    I’VE GOT A COUPLE REASONS OF WHY YOU SHOULD GET ME a 9.5 PAIR OF Apl Kicks, well the first reason is because first thing I want to be a true NBA star because I got handles plus I have a beautiful post game I’m big at 160 llbs&5’7 plus if I could dunk, WOW.I would the best B-ball player in my grade. The second reason I need the pair of kicks is because another man in my class got the Jordon 4’s and then I’m like how do I top those I am out of money ,I can’t a new pair. Then the same guy told me he’s goanna get a pair of Jordan SC 1, and as I said I got no more cash left on me. The 3rd & final reason I need kicks is because every time I enter a contest for kicks, for the same exact reason the website always says not allowed to people in Canada. I truly hope I don’t get snubbed by MY basketball Website &source for information on B-BALL.

  • http://gmail.com Serge Ibaka

    hey its Serge Ibaka and well i need these shoes because everybody knows im in the dunk contest and have to go against guys like blake griffin and Demar Derozan well i can almost do a 360 in between the leg twice dunk but i need an extra inch these shoes will really help and hey you wanna see a dunk contest for the ages. GET ME THOSE SHOES!!!!!

  • A as in Armstrong

    Well there’s gonna be a dunk contest in the family reunion and my uncle Darrell is on my ear telling me I can’t beat an old man like him. I could use a couple inches more [vert] so I DON’T embarrass myself making a reverse layup and coming in last place.
    Plus I’ve heard about the Earl ‘The Goat’ Manigault picking quarters off the top of the backboard– if I had that kind of boost IMAGINE how much money I’ll make touring the state playgrounds picking quarters off the backboards! Maybe then I could actually BUY a pair of APLs instead of waxing poetic about them. That is, if my Uncle Darrell doesn’t hustle me for quarters.

  • http://slamonline.com Zach Barens

    I believe that i deserve these shoes because i am a highschool basketball player who is trying to get to the next level and i believe that these shoes will BOOOOST my confidence and my spirit Pleaseeeee SEND ME THESE SHOES

  • KD

    I need those shoes because KEVIN LOVE has a higher vertical than me! Seriously, my vertical is a legit five inches. I need those shoes, BAD!

  • http://slamonline.com tealish

    I need, nay, want these shoes because I want that K Love 30-30 special! I can get that first thirty, but rebounding at 5’8 doesn’t come too easy. Please, help me achieve the NUMB#RS!

  • Tyler

    Dear SLAM, I am about 5’6 right now(not gonna get much taller) and i can jump pretty high. But with my height, i can only do so much. I mean im only about an inch away from rim right now. I would LOVE to be able to get a fastbreak dunk in a highschool game or something but what really love..Defense. The feeling that i get when i jump up and throw some big man’s shot out of bounds is incredible. Unfortunately, this rarely happens. And most of the time its luck. So please SLAM, Help me out…

  • marc brown

    so i can finally dunk and beat my sister 1 on 1 smh..keep in mind im 28 and she’s 16 and i thinking dunking on her will teach her a lesson please i need these , she calls me LITTLE BIG BROTHER !!

  • DTC21

    i am 15 and in 9th grade but i have no ACL’s such as dejuan blair, and i do not have a good verticle at all. Please pick me.

  • Lucas Blumenfeld

    I’m 16 and 6″1 and I just started dunking but I’m not consistent yet. I love the feeling of throwing it down in the warm up but I sometimes miss and I just look dumb. The other day I stole the ball and went in alone on the basket, I went up for the dunk but just came a little bit short. The ball still went in but I’m only missing a little height to dunk emphatically! 4 players on my team can dunk but no one has done it in a game yet. I’m the shortest of the 4 and I’d love to be the first to dunk in a game so please help me out SLAM, so I can take my game to the next level!

  • Nick

    So as i read all these comments everyone is not thinking the right way. I want these shoes of course to see if they work but aso to help you guys by marketing them for you at my universities rec center. Not only will this help me but I could help you guys as well.

    Thank You

  • http://slamonline.com GlobeTrotter

    Dear SLAM & APL,
    Allow me to tell you why I need these more than anyone…..
    Back when I was in High School, there was this one guy who would always bully me during pick-up games. This guy was huge and I was one of the smallest 16 year old’s in my class, yet he would push, hit, trip, and even pull my pants down when I wasn’t looking!!! One day I crossed him over to everyone’s amusement, except he wasn’t laughing as he held me against a wall after the game and threatened to smash my face in if I ever did anything like that again…..fast forward to the future – over the years I had a growth spurt and am now a modest 5’11″. I’ve worked hard on my game, play in a decent team and have pretty good hops, just not quite good enough to get up and throw it down. Recently I started playing in a social league for extra fitness and who do you think I saw? That’s right, Jason is his name and now he’s got a big target on him courtesy of me! He’s still about 4 inches taller (and a LOT heavier), but his game hasn’t changed much, as I see him giving cheap shots to all the little guys (never the big guys!). He’s totally ignored me since we’ve been in this social league so I want to give him something to remember me by!
    I am sure, with the help of the most amazing basketball shoes ever, I will be able to throw down on this punks face when we meet on the court and let him know that’s for all the little guys he’s bullied over the years (I’ve even got the big guys on my team to promise to back me up if things get nasty afterwards!)
    Please, let me be the one.

  • Owen11

    I simply want to dunk on my coach.

  • Zabba

    Because I’m tired of working overtime the past three months just to buy these shoes.

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