When Law holds court, it has slam-dunk appeal
‘Thunder’ bringing his signature shots to the Berry Center
About a week and a half after Corey Law competed in the 2013 College Slam Dunk Championship in Atlanta, he received an email he thought was a prank.
The email was from a Harlem Globetrotters recruiter, letting the High Point University senior know that the team wanted him to be a part of its 88th world tour. The Globetrotters were considering drafting the 6-3 forward.
“When I first told my mom, I wasn’t too excited, because I didn’t know if it was a joke or not,” Law said. “She was just instantly jumping to conclusions. She went to the point of talking about how she couldn’t wait to get her jersey to wear it to the games. I’m like, ‘Mom, I haven’t even been drafted yet.’ ”
Law was drafted by the Globetrotters on June 25 of that same year.
Now, five years later, Law — who was given the nickname “Thunder” as a rookie at training camp for his “thunderous dunks” — is still with the team. Aside from his 44-inch vertical leap, Law is also known for his ability to hit trick shots. The Chesapeake, Va., native hopes to show off his signature skills when the Globetrotters visit the Berry Center on Sunday as a part of their 2018 Amazing Feats of Basketball World Tour.
Owns four unique records
Law owns four individual Guinness World Records for distance: longest shot made backward (82 feet, 2 inches in 2014), shot made while sitting on the court (58 feet, 9.25 inches in 2016), shot made under one leg (52 feet, 5.5 inches in 2016) and highest upward shot (50 feet, 1 inch in 2017).
Even when he’s not breaking records, Law practices hitting difficult shots from absurd distances. Last Thursday, he sunk a shot from the upper deck of Minute Maid Park onto the field.
A members of the Globetrotters’ public relations staff proposed the idea to Law to promote the team’s upcoming games in Texas, including the appearance at the Berry Center as well as at H-E-B Center in Cedar Park (July 13) and the AT&T Center in San Antonio (July 14). Law was all in.
“Why not go there?” Law said. “(The Astros) are the defending World Series champions. So, I thought that was cool.”
Law is no stranger to hitting big shots in Houston. In 2016, he hit a shot from the roof of NRG Stadium to a goal set up outside on the sidewalk, a height of about 260 feet, to promote the Globetrotters’ 2017 world tour tipping off in Houston.
“Everybody does it big in Texas, but H-Town is special,” Law said. “It’s one of my favorite cities in the world, actually. The people there are so amazing. I love the hospitality. It’s always a good time in H-Town.”
Growing up, Law focused his game on fundamentals rather than shooting deep 3-pointers and circus shots. Through four years at High Point, he averaged 8.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Law attempted just six 3pointers for the Panthers and made none.
Hook shot from battleship
He developed a knack for hitting trick shots by watching his teammates once he joined the Globetrotters. Law discovered his special talent by trying to shoot a variety of different shots.
“Everyone has their niche,” Law said. “Some guys are good 4point shooters. Some guys are some of the best slam dunkers in the world. Mine just happens to be shooting long (trick) shots.”
The fifth-year Globetrotter has made a hook shot off of the USS Wisconsin, a museum battleship in Norfolk, Va., that was used in World War II and the Korean War.
He also has made a shot from the rafters and onto the field of Etihad Stadium in the Melbourne suburb of Docklands, Australia.
Law tries to come up with new ideas to make each trick shot unique. He says he can’t take all the credit for the creativity of his shots, though.
“Sometimes I take ideas from fans,” Law said. “Even family members gave me some ideas on some world records. I’m always trying to do something new and set the bar.”
Law was eliminated in the first round of that dunk contest in 2013. He also didn’t believe that the email was actually from a Globetrotters recruiter. After his collegiate career was finished, Law didn’t know his next move.
It’s safe to say that email changed his life.
“From (the day I was drafted), I’ve been living the dream,” Law said. “I’m just definitely blessed and thankful.”