Greatest dunkers in GHSA history: Help us compile the list
Those of us who cover high school sports for The Atlanta-Journal Constitution have seen our fair share of throw-down, rim-shaking, nasty dunks during a combined 100 or so years of coverage in this state.
We were in Thomaston in the 1980s when Kenny Walker of Crawford County flew over a couple of R.E. Lee players in the middle of the lane and brought the house down. We were at the B/C camp a few years later when Griffin’s Darrin Hancock put on a dunking exhibition, the last slam after flying over a large lunch room table he had placed near the free-throw line.
But we need your help to compile a list of the greatest dunkers in GHSA history. Here’s what we want you to do: Tell us below about the best dunk you’ve ever seen in a high school basketball game. Give us the player, the year (or estimation), the place and a solid description of the dunk. And if you want to possibly be part of our story, copy the post and send with contact information to sports@ajc.com.
The “Greatest Dunkers in GHSA History” list and story will be posted on ajc.com and published in the newspaper’s sports section on Jan. 13, which happens to be the same day we will begin taking nominations for the ajc.com’s annual Slam-Dunk video contest. That competition is for current players.And just to whet the dunking appetite, here are a few factoids you just might recall:
- Name three former Georgia high school players have won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest:
They are Walker (Crawford County) in 1989, Josh Smith (McEachern) in 2005 and Dwight Howard (SW Atlanta Christian) in 2008.
- Name three Georgia high school players who won the dunk contest at the prestigious McDonald’s All-American all-star game.
They are Hancock (Griffin) in 1990, Carlos Strong (Cedar Shoals) in 1992 and Donnell Harvey (Randolph-Clay) in 1999.
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241 comments Add your comment
Panthers Dunk Too
December 6th, 2012
6:05 pm
Best Dunk Ever: Perry High School vs. Central High School (Macon) 1987 – Score 0-0. Perry’s / Phillip Thompson throws an inbound pass to Shonn Davis who leaps from outside the lane – double clucth reverse jam – for the first points of the game! That set the tone for a blowout for Perry High and needless to say Coach Sweat didn’t break his ciip board that day.
old man
December 6th, 2012
6:12 pm
went to roosevelt in early 60s. brookings could jump too! had a brother too. coach. david
Actually, all of us Herb White fans...
December 6th, 2012
6:14 pm
…cannot say we ever saw Herb dunk in a game since dunking was not legal in HS or college until about 1978, or maybe even later…we could dunk in HS BEFORE the games, but not during – just the opposite of today in college – dunking before a game is a technical foul today just as it was during a game back in the day…
Speedy
December 6th, 2012
6:16 pm
When Jeff Sheppard dunked over Forest Park’s 6′-8″ Center his freshman year of high school. The whole gym went crazy. McIntosh had 15 white players, a white coach, 12 white cheerleaders, and prbably 9 parents in the whole gym of 1,200 or so. When he stole the next pass and tomahawked a dunk over the point guard…the whole gym went crazy and started stompeing on the bleachers and chanting “white boy, white boy” ….The crowd loved him. They would mock their own players when he dunked on them. Every game after that, when McIntosh rolled in…. the stands were packed, chanting,and stomping…..Morrow, Riverdale, Jonesboro, Griffin, Banneker, Newnan, LaGrange…. everybody showed up to see Jeff show out!
GT4Life (the original)
December 6th, 2012
6:37 pm
Without a doubt, Ishmael Muhammad (WD Mohammed High), the most vicious in-game dunked in GHSA history. Heard about him and saw a game where he caught an errant shot/pass off the backboard, took off just inside the free throw line and two-hand windmilled on 2 defending post players with ease. I couldn’t believe what I’d seen and he shrugged like it was nothing.
My favorite dunker from my high school days in DeKalb was Kelsey Weems of Walker High (McNair High now). He could jump out of the gym but her was Jordanesque with the Gumby haircut, in that he glided with ease and had flair. He had some good battles with Avondale (Chris Whitaker), Columbia (Harlan Graham) and the Decaur teams of the mid-80’s…power houses all.
Richard
December 6th, 2012
7:11 pm
Dontonio Wingfield was an absolute beast from Westover Highschool in Albany, Ga. He led Westover to four consecutive AAA State Championships with his thunderous dunks.
Don Savage
December 6th, 2012
7:27 pm
Dan “Great White Hope” Stryzinski. Northview HS. Search him on youtube yall. Dude could fly. Wish he would’ve played a little more wide out than small forward. him or Bradley Osteheimer. Unreal. Helps keep me cool.
Zingy Zang Zang
Timmy2Times
December 6th, 2012
7:30 pm
Shareef Abdur-Rahim threw down some nasty dunks in his time @ Wheeler
Clyde
December 6th, 2012
7:47 pm
Stan Rome of Valdosta High School. His 1974 team averaged over 100 points per game. While dunks were not allowed in games at that time his dunks in practice and outside of games were of David Thompson caliber!
Stu Hasty
December 6th, 2012
7:53 pm
I saw Dewey Neese of Wills High School in Smyrna, steal an inbounds pass late in the finals of the 1981 Cobb County Tournament and tomahawk dunk all over Campbell High’s Alex Warner in the Cobb County Cobb Civic Center 1981! He then high stepped back all the way down the court pointing at the Campbell student section, probably the loudest roar I ever heard! Pretty good facial dunk too!
Fair Play Fan
December 6th, 2012
7:55 pm
Max Sizemore and Mole: How can I ever forget my great Beach High Bull Dogs. I often tell how I played point guard holding off Gator Rivers, Knowles, etc. The year after I graduated, Beach won 3-State Championships. lol The late –Russell Ellington, Morris Brown grad was a great coach coming a few years after the legendary Joe Green.
New Cars
December 6th, 2012
7:59 pm
Not enough love for my fellow Patriots from Southwest-Macon. Terry Fair was out of this world, but the dude that jumped center sometimes on that team was a dude named Hook McCarthy and he was unreal. I remember that national champion team playing our ninth grade team. We had a guy named BoBo Thomas that played at Centenary, he was 6-3 maybe and one time he dropped stepped and dunked on Scott Hastings, 6-11′ of Arkansas and Hawks fame. Plenty other on those teams, but one thing about Duck, you better not miss a dunk or you were sitting next to him getting chewed out. It didn’t matter how big a star you were.
StingerSplash
December 6th, 2012
8:01 pm
Randy Hughes from Swainsboro. Took a lob pass off the backboard from Sergio Washington, took off from dotted line and bam.
Arkee Thompson from Windsor Forest. Drove baseline against 6-7 Reggie Smith and 6-10 Kenyon Jones from Beach and went over both of them for a dunk.
Brandon Jones from Bradwell Institute. Took half-court pass from Vince Lewis and reverse dunked in traffic.
meeks32
December 6th, 2012
8:04 pm
Marvin “highriser” Collins Lithia Springs class of 2002. Won city slam on espn some years back and several other events. I believe he plays some type streetball. Needless to say just look him up on you tube. Plus he broke a backboard as a starting freshman. prob wasnt even 6′1 tops
Maybe, maybe not
December 6th, 2012
8:30 pm
Matt Harpring could dunk over the best of them at Marist.
hit a single
December 6th, 2012
8:30 pm
I would rather have a basketball player than a dunker. Give the guy that can hit the 10 foot jumper.
coach
December 6th, 2012
8:59 pm
Chris Morris-Douglas High School 1984 finals vs. Lagrange
Roland Shelton-Decatur High School
Kelsey Weems-Walker High School
Jjandrews22
December 6th, 2012
9:09 pm
Quincey Knuckles from Buford caught an inbound alley oop over me that still gives me nightmares.
YELLERJACKETZ1
December 6th, 2012
9:11 pm
ATLANTA P. D . I SEE THEM AT THE DOUGHNUT SHOPS ALL OVER TOWN ! HAHA
NYCDAWGFAN
December 6th, 2012
9:16 pm
First, this forum is AWESOME!! I wanna say that Im glad some of you mentioned Ismail Muhammed, that guy could absolutely fly! Can’t believe I forgot about him.. Im gonna throw another name out there of a guy that is definitely getting over looked… He’s a DGD.. Mr. Brandon Boykin ;O)
Red and Black til Death
Joz
December 6th, 2012
9:32 pm
Bruce Oglesby. 6′3″ player from Hart County in late 80’s/early 90’s w crazy ups. Nasty dunk over the 7 footer from Cass in a State Tourney game at GA Tech!
woodie
December 6th, 2012
9:35 pm
Frank Elliott- Lagrange High School…late 70’s
That Dude Says...
December 6th, 2012
9:42 pm
@NYCDAWGFAN… You aren’t joking about Brandon ”Bam Bam” Boykin from Fayette Co high school. I mentioned him on page one of this blog. Boykin, Jeff Sheppard, and CJ Williams who played for Woodward Academy (Ga Tech football) have the best in game high school dunks I’ve ever seen.
Pinhead
December 6th, 2012
10:10 pm
Jeff Sheppard, who also had the state HS high jump record. Who says white boys can’t jump?
jack knife
December 6th, 2012
10:12 pm
Don’t forget the old Atlanta Hawk, Herb White aka The Elevator From Decatur.
Big Hops
December 6th, 2012
10:27 pm
In a Christmas tournament game at Morgan County HS in 2001, Mario West from Douglas County HS took off from inside the free throw line, went over a Parkview defender, and threw down a dunk on his way back down!!
Crapola on you
December 6th, 2012
10:41 pm
How bout an article on the best jump shooters, or most efficient playmakers or best free throw shooters? Maybe one day the colored players will undertand that a dunk only counts for 2 points and other facets of the game are more important.
K-Man
December 6th, 2012
10:48 pm
I was a 10-11 year old gym rat in 1965-66 at the old SWD; but to this day, when I think of a dunker, the main man IS the Elevator from Decatur: Herbie White was, and is still, the best these eyes have seen!!
Richard Razor
December 6th, 2012
10:57 pm
There was a kid from now defunct Harper-Archer High in the city of Atlanta (APS) ‘93-97, Demetrius Hammonds, AKA “Meathead”…kid was about 5′10 or 5′11, & was a skywalker, powerful dunker! legendary in the city…
Veteran Fan
December 6th, 2012
11:09 pm
Bruce Dalrymple, Wills H.S. Versus Sprayberry state championship game at GT I think 1977. Won the opening tip to one of his guys and then took off and sprinted to the basket and caught a pass from his teammate a foot above the rim and threw it down for the first basket of the game! Wills Tigers won the game and the state title for Charlie Neal in his last game as coach on the last Wills basketball team as they were merged into Campbell the next year!
True Story
December 6th, 2012
11:12 pm
Quniton Hollis of Redan High School and you heard it hear first Darius Alexander of Stockbridge high school (henry county) currently in 10th grade has the most athleticism of any other player in the 2015 class state of georgia. At the moment is one of the top dunkers in the state!
Dum-Bass
December 6th, 2012
11:46 pm
Please stop it with this asinine emphasis on dunking, especially in high school. That’s exactly the reason I no longer watch the NBA. College BB is headed down the same road and is losing me also. If they insist on this “love affair” with the dunk, they need to raise the basket another 12 inches. At least make it challenging!
the pringles can
December 6th, 2012
11:57 pm
how can anyone that grew up in south ga during the late 90’s not mention Greg Tinch from Westover in albany? he played football at Louisville as well. heck, even dotonio wingfield and Dextric Green. I think they were known as the quad squad since they won 4 state ships in a row
Mantis
December 7th, 2012
12:07 am
Donny Burris – Douglas County back in 93. Smoked one against Osborne back in the day – out of the 4 corners. Dude was a stud – underrated…
Savannah love
December 7th, 2012
12:53 am
Never saw him live but what about Savannah High’s Pervis Ellison. My generation favs of Dontonio Wingfield, Jeff Sheppard, Shandon Anderson, and Shareef.
RobinVa
December 7th, 2012
1:14 am
Enter your comments here
RobinVa
December 7th, 2012
1:17 am
Who cares? The most overrated act in sports.
Scott
December 7th, 2012
7:36 am
Couple of guys that played in the early 80’s – Joe Ward of Griffin and Sylvester Maddox of Newton County. Both were known for delivering some serious dunks. Got to give a nod to that whole 1978-1979 Southwest Macon Team too. Led by the big dunker Terry Fair. Hands down the greatest high school basketball team in Georgia History.
RHS bball champs 1997
December 7th, 2012
7:54 am
Jermaine Phillips, Roswell High School 1997. ANd he could out a mean hit on people at UGA and with the Tampa Bay Bucs
TONEY TONE
December 7th, 2012
8:38 am
HERE WE GO
TERRY MARTIN(DOUG),CHRIS MORRIS(DOUG),STEPHEN KITE(TURNER),BIG GRADY(WASH)
STANLEY FERGUSON(ARCHER),BYRD(SYLVAN),WEST FULTON HAD MANY BACK IN THE 80,S DERRICK DENNISON(DOUG) MAN WE CAN GO ON FOREVER THINK ABOUT IT
Norman Thrasher
December 7th, 2012
8:58 am
ICEMAN Crawford of Booker T Washington High 1981-1982 Awesome, could go get from anywhere and Dunk It and just Shock the Crowd.
SeminoleDrew
December 7th, 2012
8:59 am
Jon Horne Northwest Whitfield
Norman Thrasher
December 7th, 2012
9:01 am
Terry Martin of Douglass High with the Left hand Dunk
EC Indian 1994
December 7th, 2012
9:06 am
Someone ask Jeff Sheppard if he remembers getting dunked on by Terrence Hill of East Coweta in the 1993 4-AAAA Region Playoffs at Troup County. Hill took one dribble along the baseline on a fast break, one handed the ball in his right hand and pulled it back…meanwhile Sheppard tried contesting the dunk. What ensued was a SERIOUS facial for Mr. Georgia Basketball. Absolutely the best dunk I have ever seen in person at a high school game.
T-RICE
December 7th, 2012
9:26 am
Dondi Flemister of McEachern
Johnny Basketball
December 7th, 2012
9:28 am
Joe Ward, Griffen High
Da Coach
December 7th, 2012
9:32 am
Rasheem “The Dream” Barrett from Marist high. played 4 years at Auburn and now is overseas
Coach
December 7th, 2012
10:06 am
Myron Pace from Cedartown in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Dude was a monster.UNLV offered him. Unfortunately he is now in prison for murder. What a waste of unbelievable talent. Mr Dunk a sorous!
Coach
December 7th, 2012
10:07 am
James “Hollywood” Bailey at Villa Rica from 1985-89. Unbelievable dunker who changed games with his force. Went to Ole Miss and played basketball 3 years and football 2 years. Now the girls basketball coach back at Villa Rica. The best to ever come out of VR.
ss
December 7th, 2012
10:14 am
j.r. pinnock at eagle’s landing high…and a couple years later there was kevin smith at same school