FARGO-Devan Douglas was on top of the college basketball world. Representing the University of Mary-Bismarck, Douglas wowed fans gathered in Houston for last spring's NCAA Final Four by winning a slam dunk contest.

"It was unbelievable," said Douglas, who outdunked seven other college players including those from big-time schools like Nevada-Las Vegas, Tulsa and Mississippi State.

Eleven days later, Douglas' mother-at the age of 40-passed away after battling a long illness.

"The best time of my life happened then a week later the worst time of my life happened," Douglas said. "I really didn't know how to feel."

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He felt strong enough to fulfill a nurturing role for his seven younger brothers back in his hometown of Clinton, Iowa. He felt strong enough to return to Bismarck and finish his final semester and graduate at Mary.

Now, less than two months after Charmaine Douglas passed away, Douglas is experiencing another high. He has a chance to become a Harlem Globetrotter. Yes, the same Globetrotters exhibition basketball team that has been entertaining audiences around the world since the 1920s combining athleticism, theater and comedy.

Maybe, just maybe, Douglas will become the next Curly Neal-the Globetrotter who for years dazzled audiences with his insane dribbling abilities. Or maybe he'll become the next Meadowlark Lemon-the Globetrotter who startled millions of front-row spectators by throwing a bucket of confetti on them when they expected to be doused with water.

Whatever Douglas becomes, he is ready for that next chapter in his life. That started when he learned earlier this week that he was selected in the Globetrotters' annual draft. He has a tryout on July 28 in New Jersey. He could very well become a member of one of the three teams that travel for the Globetrotters these days.

"I'm just working out and getting ready for the next adventure," Douglas said over the phone from his home in Clinton. "I just want to be special in whatever I end up doing."

Douglas was special enough for Mary coaches to notice him playing basketball at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Douglas ended up averaging 10 points and eight rebounds his senior season to help Mary to a 19-12 record.

But what's even more special about Douglas is the way he can jump. As a 5-foot-7 high school freshman, he performed his first dunk and he hasn't come down since. Douglas started posting a collection of his college dunks on YouTube.

Well, this day and age, there seems to be a website for everything. Lo and behold, there is a site devoted solely to people dunking the basketball. This website noticed Douglas' dunks from his days at Kirkwood and Mary. It just so happens that this website is used as a source by the people who put on this NCAA Final Four dunk contest every year.

"I was on the road recruiting when I got this email from ESPN that Devan was selected to compete in this dunk contest," said Mary head basketball coach Joe Kittell. "Social media is such a machine these days. Devan has had some fabulous dunks ever since his junior college days and he just happened to get noticed."

They certainly noticed in Cypress, Texas-a suburb of Houston where the slam dunk contest was held. They saw Douglas grab a high bounce pass to himself in the middle of the free-throw lane and jump over 6-foot-2 Max Landis before producing a two-handed slam. Landis, the same guard from Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne who played against North Dakota State in the Summit League, was in Cypress competing in the 3-point shooting contest.

With his vertical leaping ability of 46 inches, Douglas could be seen almost hitting his head on the rim on each one of his dunks. His performance-which earned him a championship belt-got him some attention during his flight home.

"When I got on the plane, they announced 'Thank you for flying Delta airlines ... and a big huge congratulations to Devan Douglas for winning the slam dunk contest,'" said Douglas, who when he landed in Bismarck was greeted by a throng of fans and students from Mary. "The president of the school was even there. That was big, big time."

It could be even bigger times if he cracks one of the Globetrotters lineups. Kittell claims Douglas would be a perfect fit for the Globetrotters.

"He is the ultimate entertainer, people just attract to him," Kittell said. "He has a special ability to fly through the air and entertain people. He entertains, he just doesn't go up there and dunk. I think all of that is important in being a Globetrotter."

Including dealing with the highs and lows of life. As Kittell put it, Douglas was a superhero one week signing autographs after the dunk contest before he experienced the lowest of lows the next week with the passing of his mother. "I'm just so proud of him," Kittell said. "He maintained a great attitude through all of it."

And his mother was proud too. Sitting in a hospital bed, she was able to watch Douglas win the dunk contest on television.

"All I know is that I made her happy," Douglas said.