Schoolboy nails free-throw line dunk

A dunk from the free-throw line once took on mythical proportions in the world of basketball.

A US basketballer has shattered that illusion after nailing one such dunk during a competition in Las Vegas over the weekend, despite still being at high school.

Footage from the Jordan “First to Fly” Jumpman XX9 event shows Shelby McEwen, a no-name high school player from Mississippi, charge down the court before launching himself into the air at the line 4.6m from the hoop.

After just nailing the dunk, McEwen celebrates with a dance worthy of such an achievement.

A photo of Michael Jordan supposedly pulling off a dunk from the free-throw line became an icon of his career despite the NBA superstar launching himself into the air from a step inside the line.

NBA legend Julius Irving, commonly known as 'Dr. J', was the first to pull off the move during the 1984 slam dunk contest.