UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) dunks to score a basket against the Washington Huskies during the second half at Pauley Pavilion.
While this year's NBA All-Star Dunk Contest was a huge let down, college basketball did not in disappoint in the dunk category. And with March Madness basically upon us, and the NCAA Tournament kicking off in a little over a week, we thought it would be appropriate to restore your faith in the dunk by highlighting the slams that left us in a state of disbelief or the ones that were just downright disrespectful—all from a bunch of college kids balling to make others filthy rich while they barely see a dime.
To get you ready for the month of pure, unadulterated basketball insanity that's about to overwhelm the sports landscape, here are the best dunks from college basketball's regular season.
Lonzo Ball destroys a Pacific defender.
Player: Lonzo Ball
Game: UCLA vs. Pacific
Date: Nov. 11, 2016
Dunk Rating: 8
A top prospect who led his high school team to an undefeated season, while averaging a triple-double, Ball was still doubted by many critics before his freshman season began this past fall. Could his talents carry the Bruins into the NCAA Tournament? Um, yes. The future lottery pick has silenced all doubters this year in what surely will be his only season with the Bruins, highlighted by him destroying the rim with a one handed alley-oop against Pacific.
Theo Pinson takes two steps from the 3-point line for the tomahawk slam.
Player: Theo Pinson
Game: North Carolina vs. Florida State
Date: Jan. 4, 2017
Dunk Rating: 8
Pinson’s high-flying, thunderous tomahawk slam brought the roof in the Dean Dome down—remember, the roof is the ceiling—as the No. 11 Tar Heels "upset" No. 9 FSU in Chapel Hill.
Derrick White dunks over a 7-footer.
Player: Derrick White
Game: Colorado vs. Utah
Date: Feb. 23, 2017
Dunk Rating: 8.5
Early in the first half, White channeled his inner Vince Carter and unleashed one of the best dunks of the college basketball season. The 6’5” senior caught the ball at the top of the 3, pump-faked, lost his defender, and threw it down on 7-footer Jayce Johnson from the Utes.
Wright State’s Steven Davis can elevate.
Player: Steven Davis
Game: Wright State vs. Urbana
Date: Dec.13, 2016
Dunk Rating: 8.5
Davis rocked the world with his earth-shattering dunk against Urbana. After catching the pass, Davis made contact with Urbana’s Dalton Payton, but used him as a ladder to step up to the basket, throwing down a nasty dunk. What Davis did to Payton was just plain disrespectful.
Grayson Allen throws down a filthy jam.
Player: Grayson Allen
Game: Duke vs. UNLV
Date: Dec. 10, 2016
Dunk Rating: 8
There are crazy dunks, then there is Grayson Allen’s flush against UNLV. Everyone's favorite player to hate used every bit of his momentum to jump into the air, altering his body mid-flight to throw down one of the nastiest slams of the season. This is one of the few highlights from Allen this year that didn't include him tripping, elbowing, or egregiously fouling a member of the opposition.
Malik Monk with the windmill slam.
Player: Malik Monk
Game: Kentucky vs. UT Martin
Date: Nov. 25, 2016
Dunk Rating: 9
During one stretch, the 5-star freshman scored 14 of the Wildcats’ 18 points, two of which came when he showed off his athleticism with the windmill slam.
OG Anunoby with the posterization.
Player: OG Anunoby
Game: Indiana vs. Maryland
Date: Jan. 10, 2017
Dunk Rating: 9
Don’t let the high shorts fool you, the 6'8" sophomore shows why he was one of the most exciting players to watch in college basketball this past season before going down with a knee injury. Appropriately nicknamed “Original Gangster," Anunoby didn't disappoint on this drive as he floated and finished over Maryland's Damonte Dodd.
Dennis Smith Jr. did Rider dirty.
Player: Dennis Smith Jr.
Game: NC State vs. Rider
Date: Dec. 28, 2016
Dunk Rating: 9
Dennis Smith Jr. basically levitated through the lane with ease and threw down a vicious dunk over the over-matched Rider defense. Expect to see more of this in the NBA in the coming years since Smith is a highly regarded prospect who could be a top five selection in the NBA Draft.
Jarrett Allen silenced the West Virginia crowd with his ferocious flush.
Player: Jarrett Allen
Game: Texas vs. West Virginia
Date: Feb. 20, 2017
Dunk Rating: 10
After snagging a pass from Kerwin Roach, Allen reached back and stopped mid-air to steal the souls of every West Virginia fan with a truly nasty dunk. Since Texas had a brutal campaign, finishing with a regular season record of 10-21, this was arguably the Longhorns highlight of the season. Allen, who is listed at 6’11", put his 7’6" wingspan on full display with that jam.
Miles Bridges's alley-oop was picture perfect.
Player: Miles Bridges
Game: Michigan State vs. Rutgers
Date: Jan. 4, 2017
Dunk Rating: 10
This frequently happens to Rutgers basketball. After getting a block and sprinting down the other end of the court, Michigan State freshman Miles Bridges was the recipient of a perfect alley-oop from Cassius Winston and threw down a blistering one-handed slam that brought down the Breslin Center roof.
Dillon Brooks's vicious two-handed slam.
Player: Dillon Brooks
Game: Oregon vs. UCLA
Date: Dec. 28, 2016
Dunk Rating: 10
Brooks showed little regard for the hoop or for the UCLA defense when the two squads met for their huge early season showdown in Westwood. Brooks came in with full force and finished with the two-handed slam that had Bill Walton, who was calling the game, singing the praises of the Oregon star.
And finally, Derek Harper.
Player: Derek Harper
Game: Clark Atlanta University vs. Lane College
Date: Dec. 31, 2016
Dunk Rating: 10
Harper, a 5’10” point guard from Division II Clark Atlanta, defied gravity as he climbed the ladder to throw down one of the most amazing dunks you will ever see. First, he deserves props for the nasty crossover. Second, how about a sub-six-footer showing those kinds of hops (or was he levitating)? And finally, to add insult to injury, Harper pulled an A.I., stepping over the fallen defender. Dunk of the year. @ us.