Basketballer leaps into crowd and takes out sports boss

Basketball players are renowned for their leaping ability and for a group of college cheerleaders it's just as well.

Playing in a recent inter college match, North Carolina's 2m-plus forward Brice Johnson appeared to be on a collision course with a posse of cheerleaders as he tried to chase down a ball during a clash with the Virginia Cavaliers.

Heading out of bounds and straight for the pom-pom shakers, Johnson managed to hurdle over the top to avoid a nasty collision.

However, the girls' good fortune proved unlucky for another spectator - Duke University's athletics director Kevin White - who was taken out by Johnson.

Footage of the incident showed Johnson harness his jumping skills to clear the girls before crashing onto a table in the row behind and knocking White from his chair.

Fortunately, neither Johnson or White were injured with the star forward's Tar Heels going onto win the match 71-67 and book a spot in the post season championships.