by Brandon Borges ‘15
While there are countless types of plays in the sport of basketball, one athletic feat in particular has become arguably the most recognizable. The move goes by many names depending on the nature of its execution, often bold, intimidating, and emphatic: the tomahawk, the double pump, the windmill, and the slam dunk. Some of your classmate along with your favorite professional athletes have been able to work on this exciting play.
Varsity basketball player Mikal Outcalt ‘15 is a witness of the importance of the dunk to the basketball player’s psyche and the sport as a whole, and says that a strong dunk can swing the outcome of a game.
“Dunking is a big play that can change the momentum of a game to your favor, and it brings the crowd into the game,” Outcalt said. Outcalt himself had a momentum changing dunk earlier this season against Berea-Midpark, which kept the Wildcats in that game.
Outcalt is just one of the numerous players on the varsity team who say that they can dunk, along with Isiah Barbra ‘14, David Black ‘14, Eric Black ‘14, Jaylin McDonald ‘15, Andre Wolford ‘15, Jake Strippy ‘14, Devin Stover ‘16, Dylan Nieto ‘15, Ogo Okolo ‘14, Danny Bova ‘14, and Tim Kiefer ‘16.
But while some players may merely be capable of the physical action itself, the team is host to a few standouts – leapers whose jams rise above the rest, although Outcalt couldn’t specify one clear champion.
“The best dunker on the team is either one of the Black twins or Jaylin [McDonald],” he said. But Jaylin has been recognized as the best dunker by teammates Nieto and Kiefer. “He gets up,” said Kiefer. Jaylin McDonald had a dunk late in the game against on February 1st against the Bedford Bearcats, solidifying that Wildcat victory.
Although dunking has the potential to get the crowd excited, it’s not always a practical choice.
“Dunking in a game is extremely effective because it brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team and to the crowd,” Kiefer said. “It can be a total game changer and ruin the flow of the game for the other team. However, missing a dunk does the complete opposite and is extremely embarrassing.”
According to Outcalt, sometimes the safest option is the most beneficial. “Usually just securing the [points] with a lay up is the safest route,” Outcalt said.
Although dunking can prove to be impractical, players say that the momentum a successful jam creates can be worth the risk. When the crowd gets on a basketball team’s side, the cheers are always an advantage. And nothing can get more fan support than the slam dunk.
