20 Best Dunkers in College Basketball

The 2011-2012 college basketball season is stacked with an outstanding crop of high-flying dunkers with NBA-ready athleticism.

From Baylor's acrobatic trio to the leapers of the ACC and Big East, this slideshow features the best finishers in the country. Some are great in-game dunkers, while others use their creative skills to amaze fans at dunk contests.

Here's a look at the top 20 dunkers in college basketball today. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

During his time at Illinois, Brandon Paul has delighted Fighting Illini fans with his skills. The 6'4" junior can elevate and fight through contact in the lane, but he can also step back and bury long-range jumpers.

This monster one-handed slam against Southern Illinois was a "Dunk of the Year" nominee last year.

Florida freshman Patric Young brings athleticism and power to the Gators' frontcourt. The 6'9" power forward will be one of the most lethal dunkers in the country for the next couple years.

His alley-oop reverse from the McDonald's All-American weekend is just a small sample of what Young brings to the table in Gainesville.

Perry Jones would have been a Top Five pick if he entered the draft last spring, but he decided to come back to Baylor for his sophomore season.

Jones is 6'11", and his combination of height and athleticism lends itself well to alley-oops and highlight-reel finishes. These McDonald's All-American dunk contest clips are a foreshadowing of future NBA dunk contests.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys have the treat of watching Le'Bryan Nash rock rims across the Midwest this season. He's a young high-riser who can do creative dunks in contests, but he can also slam it in traffic during games.

This clip shows Nash, a natural right-hander, dunking over defenders left-handed.

High Point University is looking to mix it up in the Big South this season, and Shay Shine will be in the middle of it all.

The 6'2" guard can flat-out bounce. There's something about a little guy ruthlessly dunking on his opponent that inspires the underdog in all of us.

Kris Joseph began his career at Syracuse primarily as a slasher and a highlight-reel guy. Now he's evolved into a much more complete player.

As fun as his in-game dunks are, his jams during warm-ups are much more impressive. I've personally witnessed some of his jaw-dropping pregame slams in the Carrier Dome, and they are NBA dunk contest material.

Kyle Kuric is one of Louisville's best shooters, and he will help the Cardinals compete for a Big East championship. He's also a ferocious dunker, as evidenced by this throwdown from last season.

Take note of the reaction from the Notre Dame bench when Kuric drops the hammer. 

This one-handed put-back slam tells you pretty much everything you need to know about Jared Cunningham's aerial skills.

He's one of the most exciting players to watch on the West Coast. Pac-12 opponents will have their hands full trying to contain him this year; he's averaging 18 points and three steals per game thus far.

Representing Conference USA is Memphis' D.J. Stephens, who can get up in a hurry. He barely gets any playing time for the Tigers, but when he does, he utilizes his explosive athleticism.

One of his favorite hobbies is posterizing people, as you can see from this clip against Gonzaga.

Quincy Acy is another Baylor phenomenon, and he's performing well on both ends of the floor this season. The 6'7" senior is shooting 62 percent from the field and notching 3.3 blocks and 7.6 rebounds per game.

Check out this baseline reverse slam from earlier this season. The San Diego State Aztecs are still recovering from that one.

Duke's Mason Plumlee has impressive agility for a guy his size (6'11", 235 pounds).

He's a monster on the glass for the Blue Devils, and has thrown down a boatload of alley-oops since he arrived in Durham in 2009. 

Here is a mix of some of his niftiest jams, including the three-in-one dunk.

Yes, Baylor has three players on this list. Deuce Bello is the youngest of the trio, but he's the best dunker.

His wingspan and vertical help him pull off some Vince Carter-type slams. In this highlight reel from high school, he makes it look too easy.

The Plumlee brothers and Austin Rivers might grab most of the headlines for the Duke Blue Devils, but Andre Dawkins is the best dunker on the team.

Although he's 6'4", he's a two-time Duke dunk contest winner. He knows how to please the Cameron Crazies.

Sam Thompson is a freshman at Ohio State playing in the shadows of Jared Sullinger and William Buford, but he's already one of the most thrilling dunkers in the Big Ten.

Here is his mix tape from high school—his hang-time and agility in the air are eye-popping.

Elijah Johnson is one of the most exciting players in the Big 12, and the 6'4" leaper has stepped up into a more prominent role for Kansas.

He's made some stunning plays for the Jayhawks, but my favorite dunk of his is this 360 between-the-legs from high school.

There's only a handful of people on the planet who can pull that off in a game.

Ohio State Buckeyes forward Jared Sullinger makes this list due to sheer power. He's no kangaroo, but when he gets the ball with good position in the post, he slams it home with authority.

There's no one in the country that dominates the paint the way Sullinger does, as he's averaging a double-double, with 18 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Rodney Williams wasn't incredibly productive in his first couple years at Minnesota, but he was a high-flying presence from day one.

Now in his third year, he's getting more playing time, so we get to enjoy his acrobatic dunks more often.

UNC Tar Heel fans are thoroughly enjoying the fact that Harrison Barnes returned to Chapel Hill for his sophomore season.

He's a great outside shooter, but he can also attack the rim with ferocity. Here's a prime example of his mean streak; the victim is Clemson.

Andre Drummond has made an impact at Connecticut already, and he'll be destroying rims all over the East Coast throughout the season.

In this UConn dunk contest video, his performance from 0:40 to 1:19 stands out. 

Topping our list is Terrence Jones, who attacks the hoop with unmatched ruthlessness. When he dunks, he makes a statement. That's why he's Kentucky's enforcer.

Here's a recent masterpiece against North Carolina. The Tar Heels had no chance.