Ranking the top 10 KU dunks of 2012-13
After getting some feedback from Twitter followers, the following is my list of the top 10 dunks for the Kansas men’s basketball team from the 2012-13 season.
Honorable mention
Jamari Traylor gets stickback vs. Michigan State
Jeff Withey slams with authority against American
Travis Releford goes with the overhead reverse jam against Belmont
Jeff Withey throws down one-handed slam against North Carolina
Top 10
10. Ben McLemore dunks over teammate Jamari Traylor against Washington State
It’s hard enough to get dunks in traffic when your own teammate isn’t trying to keep you away from the rim. McLemore just started to show his athleticism with this dunk, which is more impressive after you watch it a couple times on replay.
9. Kevin Young puts in reverse alley-oop against Texas Tech
Going reverse seemed to be Kevin Young’s specialty this year, but doing so on an alley-oop is something you don’t see often — especially with a defender right there.
8. Ben McLemore rattles rim against Belmont
McLemore just beat the halftime buzzer with this jam, and he probably deserved a technical foul for his violent shaking of the rim afterwards. He didn’t get one, so it ends up being a fun play to watch again on repeat.
7. Ben McLemore puts in windmill dunk over San Jose State
Man, McLemore can jump. I’m wondering if I could even do this on a 7-foot goal. I doubt it.
6. McLemore goes baseline for jam against TCU
McLemore gets bonus points here for a couple reasons: 1. The dunk gives KU a 38-9 halftime lead over TCU, which had beaten KU a few weeks earlier; 2. McLemore’s celebration is great, as he throws a few boxing uppercuts on his way back down the court.
5. Kevin Young gets fancy with reverse dunk against Texas Tech
KU was playing without any emotion before this pick-me-up dunk by Young, which appeared to fire the Jayhawks up. This one took some courage, as it was still a close game and KU needed two points more than it needed style points. Young was able to give KU both.
4. Jeff Withey posterizes Kansas State’s Jordan Henriquez
This has all the makings of a memorable dunk: 1. Going right over a tall defender and putting it in over him; 2. Playing against the team’s biggest rival at home; 3. Celebrating with “The Superman” shirt opening — an emotional outburst that was rare for a quiet guy like Withey.
3. Ben McLemore’s inbounds slam against Ohio State
One of the interesting things about this dunk is that you can see it coming. McLemore uses great footwork to come around the screen, and about two seconds before the pass, the lane completely opens up.
McLemore gets unbelievably high on this jump as well … so high that he’s almost at eye level with the rim at the top of his leap. Because of that, he spikes the ball almost straight down through the rim — something you don’t see often in college basketball.
2. Ben McLemore goes 360 on dunk against Texas
The degree of difficulty on this dunk is just crazy.
I know it’s a blowout, but this is jam that is usually reserved for slam-dunk contests. The fact that McLemore tried it — and made it — pushes this attempt way up the charts. It’s another one we won’t likely see at KU for a long time.
1. Ben McLemore goes up and over Oregon State defender
McLemore decided early he was going to dunk this one. And then he did without caring if anyone was in his way.
When a dunk makes you gasp when you witness it in person, it’s worthy of the No. 1 spot.