D-III Dunker Jacob Tucker is getting what he wanted

By now you've all probably heard about Jacob Tucker.

He's the 5-foot-11 senior guard from tiny Illinois College with the 50-inch-vertical leap.

A week ago he posted a YouTube video of himself performing various dunks at his college's gym, in hopes he could persuade somebody to let him enter the 2011 State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships.



Since then, the video has gone viral (1.75mil views), the facebook group he created has over 2,600 fans, another D-III dunker has been inspired to do the same, and now he will have a chance to earn his way into the actual slam dunk contest.

Intersport and ESPN announced today that for the first time in 23 years, there will be an online competition to determine a roster spot in College Slam Dunk. Lee (Tenn.) University’s Rico Cunningham (the player inspired by Tucker) and Tucker will compete for fan votes on the program’s Facebook page to earn a trip to The State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships March 31 in Houston.

Cunningham is a 6-foot-7 forward known for his acrobatic dunks and was featured on an episode of ESPN's SportsNation in December.



Again, fans can vote for who they want in the dunk contest by clicking this link

Tucker has to be considered the early favorite. After all it was because of his desire and determination to campaign for a spot in the contest that something like this happening.

Let that be a message to all you 5-11 guards with a 50-inch vertical - anything is possible.