Dunkers' Delight

A list of the best slam dunkers I've seen in my time watching prep hoops in Oakland County (1988 – present)

Please note: This list is in no particular order and does not include current OC ballers

Chris Webber & Iyapo Montgomery (DCD) – These two running buddies who led the Yellowjackets to back-to-back-to-back state titles in the late-80's and early-90's, busted up a fair share of rims in their day. Webber (Michigan/NBA All-Star) was a big man, yet had gazelle-like grace and that carried over to his dunking arsenal. Montgomery (UofD-Mercy) was a spry wing, who loved to fill the lane on the break and swoop in for the jam off passes from rock-steady point guard Kevin Colson (Florida A&M).

Mark Chappell (Southfield-Lathrup) – Not as much of a pure scorer as his baby brother Mike (Duke/Michigan State-ncaa championship) was, but this older-Chappell model was more of a skywalker and one of the premiere dipsy-doo-dunkerooers in the OC back in the early-1990's. 

Elvin Jones (Ferndale) – A three sport-star for the Eagles back in the mid-to-late-1990's (he was also an All-State football and high jump stud for the Eagles who accepted a gridiron scholarship from Indiana University in 1997), Jones was a high flyer with few equals in his era of play – the beneficiary of a barrage of alley-oop passes from all-state point guard Rashad Phillips (UofD-Mercy) in his three season varsity career.

Ryan Aaron (MH Madison) – The most recent dunk king in the OC. This explosive leaper was able to accumulate an almost –unthinkable 60 dunks over the course of 21 games in the 2008- 2009 season.

David Bowens (Orchard Lake St. Mary's) – Just plain power and brute force attacking the rim whenever this future NFL veteran took to the air for the slammer-jammer during his time playing for some stacked Eaglets' hoop squads in the mid-1990's.

Theron Wilson (Royal Oak Dondero) – Amazing vertical jump for such a big guy. Wilson was vicious in his slam antics, aggressively badgering the hoop in his days playing for the Oaks in the early-1990's. The 6-9 rangy and athletic power forward was the best player to ever suit up for the now-defunct Dondero HS and a starter on an Eastern Michigan squad in 1996 that won the MAC league championship and upset Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Martell Webb (Pontiac Northern) – In my humble opinion, the best of an outstanding crop of high-risers that played for the Huskies in their last decade of existence as a program. A master of the Windmill-Tomahawk special, Webb accepted a football scholarship to the University of Michigan following a more than stellar prep athletic career.

Mando Martin (West Bloomfield) – An electrifying presence in the Lakers '03 run to the Class Final Four, energizing the WB student cheering section with an array of marquis-worthy dunks.

Ryan Perryman/Jamie Arnold (Oak Park) – This imposing frontcourt tandem slammed and jammed their way through the early-1990's for head coach Howard Golding's Oak Park Knights. Perryman (Dayton) dunked with power and flair. Arnold (Wichita State), a long and lanky leaper, played above the rim.

Mike Carter (AH Oakland Christian) – The best small school dunker this area has ever seen. Carter, an all-state athlete in three sports for three straight years, was the definition of a human-pogo stick.  

Wyki Tyson (Troy) – Very underrated in the pantheon of great Colt athletes. Tyson (Cal-State Fullerton) slammed them down with raw power mixed with a tinge of silky-smooth flavor.

L.J. Shelton (Rochester) – This future NFL star came after the rim in his prep hoop days for the Falcons at the same pace and unbridled-intensity as he did pancaking numerous defensive lineman during his pro football career.

Ira Newble (Southfield) – Dunked with authority and was the master of the tip-jam back in the early-90's for the Blue Jays. Newble was a gym rat and his workmanlike and scrappy demeanor on the court earned him a rather lengthy career in the NBA.