Dark Horse Dunker Contest

[Rollbird5]

Devaughn Akoon-Purcell and Wes Washpun are both in the dark horse dunker contest everyone should vote for them to represent the MVC!

https://darkhorsedunker.com/contest

[PantherSigEp]

Hopefully they'll update the video for Wes. They don't show the Washington St dunk or the one last week over Mock. Those are his best 2 this year...which is saying something.

Hopefully people recognize the size too. Even 6'1 is being generous to Wes.


Keep voting. Wes has a big lead but better safe than sorry. DAP is in a close battle and needs your help.

[mathewson10]

With 5 days left...

DAP is currently only up 51.8%-48.2%. It was up to nearly 60% when I voted early today. Remember you can vote once a day!

Washpun is still coasting 75%-25% but I believe that percent is down for yesterday so keep on voting ppl!

[PantherSigEp]

It's interesting watching some of the other videos and looking at some of their stats. There's actually a sub-6' guy in the race.

And Washpun's competition supposedly has a 42'' vertical at 6'7. If you watch his video it sure doesn't seem like he has hops like that. For reference, that would give him the 2nd highest vertical in the competition, to Washpun (43").

[PantherSigEp]

I'm really bored, so here's my match-up analysis for anyone who wants to vote for some other match-ups, but doesn't want to risk dozing off during some of the videos (I promise it's a distinct possibility).

Match-Up #1:
RICHARD MCCALOP
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
F | OK | 6’8” | 170 lbs | 40" Vertical

This guy might be the true Dark Horse Dunker. I love me some Washpun, and this guys has a big height advantage, but some of those highlights are NASTY! Nice mix of practice/exhibition highlights done for the video and some sick in-game dunks.

ANTHONY SELBY
Kutztown University
F | PA | 6’5” | 220 lbs | 36" Vertical

95% of the video is practice dunks during warm-ups. He's got a decent arsenal of tricks but I don't think he stacks up to McCalop. NEXT!!!


Match-Up #2:
JARRETT RUFFIN
Mount Union
F | OH | 6’5” | 220 lbs | 36" Vertical

The most notable thing about this submission is that I may have found the most amateur announcing crew in college hoops. You should watch the video as follows: 1) Turn off the sounds and watch Ruffin's 1 dunk and appreciate that it is a remarkable display of athleticism. 2) Turn the sound on, watch it again and subject yourself to this terrible and annoying display of broadcasting. I can only imagine this is 2 kids doing it for some Electronic Media class and they just started watching basketball in November. You'll be filled with a weird combination of disgust, humor and rage. *End rant*

DWAUN ANDERSON
Wagner
G | NY | 6’4” | 201 lbs | 40" Vertical

He has some weak competition in this first round but that doesn't mean he doesn't have some impressive highlights. The best ones come early, and they are all from game highlights, so there is no way to know what he may have hiding up his sleeve, but it's a decent submission.


Match-Up #3
TANNER PLOMB
Army West Point
F | NY | 6’7” | 204 lbs | 33.5" Vertical

Join the Army! Duty, Honor, Country...and dunking with your right hand. Watch his first dunk and then feel free to stop. It's just 1 minute of Plomb dunking with his right, again and again and again. Oh, wait! He dunked with two-hands once!

MICHAEL HARDGE
Tarleton State University
G | TX | 5’11” | 175 lbs | 39" Vertical

This guy is "5'11" like Washpun is "6'1" and like Wes this guy has some serious hops and moves despite the size. You should only need about 30 seconds of highlights to make your decision but feel free to keep watching and enjoy the show.


Match-Up #4
BRANDON CONLEY
Oral Roberts
G | OK | 6’6” | 225 lbs | 37" Vertical

I mean the best highlight comes at about 0:30. Otherwise it's relatively, meh. Nothing wrong with some put backs and authoritative slams, but this is a dunk contest. If you want to succeed there has to be some creativity and flair. For a 6'6 guy with decent hops I'd expect some more.

DEVAUGHN AKOON-PURCELL
Illinois State
G | IL | 6’5” | 194 lbs | 35" Vertical

While I think there have been some better submissions so far, DAP should be the runaway winner here. Some impressive game highlights but I liked some of the moves he flashed in those transition shots. Only negative is that he doesn't still have the fro. Why in the world would you shave that off?!


Match-Up #5
CHUKS IROEGBU
Northern Illinois
G | IL | 6’4” | 210 lbs | 36" Vertical

That might be the most horrendous court in America. It makes it the "NIU" thing even more insulting to me (my apologies once again to the UE posters for that gaffe). Now that we've gotten that out of the way, Chuks has quite a few highlights to back up the "I'm on a New Level" sound track. The guy is 6'4 but had to have been on the end of ~15 alley-oops and some real nasty slams in there.

DOM WILLIAMS
Indiana University East
F | IN | 6’6” | 210 lbs | 32" Vertical

Only 0:34 long and I still nearly dozed off. Don't even bother.


Match-Up #6
YUNIO BARRUETA
Barry University
G/F | FL | 6’6” | 225 lbs | 42" Vertical

You know there are a couple flashes of brilliance in there but overall...I don't see it. Maybe someone else can point out something that I'm missing. I just don't know how this one is close. I think I'm being hard on Yunio because of the video production itself. The first 0:30 are all about hyping up a Sportscenter highlight...only to be disappointed by a 2-handed slam. I don't think the video creator realized that highlight was about the pass, not the dunk.

JOHN BROWN
High Point
F | NC | 6’8” | 205 lbs | 37" Vertical

10 seconds in and your mind should be made up. High Point isn't just a school for John Brown, it's apparently his mantra. Beautifully done video as well, kudos to the marketing student who put that one together. DAP's is the only one that has been better.


Match-Up #7
CHRIS WALLER
Southwestern College
G | CA | 6’1” | 175 lbs | 34" Vertical

Hard to tell what's going on when all of the video is apparently off of mobile devices, but there are definitely some decent dunks in there. Where as most people over-sell their height, I think Waller is underselling it. That dude doesn't look 6'1. Then again this looks like D-III ball so it's possible everyone else is under 6'.

JAVONTE BYRD
Northwest Christian University
G | OR | 6’4” | 180 lbs | 33" Vertical

Remember, this is for a dunk contest so showing signs of flair and creativity is very important. While neither of these candidates "Wow"-ed me, Byrd showed more flashes of what you want to see in a dunk contest competitor.


Match-Up #8
MARIO MOODY
Bethune-Cookman
F | FL | 6’7” | 215 lbs | 42" Vertical

I have to be honest, I didn't really give this match-up much thought, how could I vote against Wes Washpun (how could anyone?!). But I watched Moody's video a couple times and each time I gained a little more appreciation for what was being shown. He has some strong post moves, dunks with authority and showed some flair. However, he's a big dude and has a 42" vertical supposedly...I didn't see "it".

WES WASHPUN
Northern Iowa
G | IA | 6’1” | 170 lbs | 43" Vertical

He's missing his 2 best dunks of the season but there is still plenty there to get excited about. I could've done with less shots of him just being fired up and more of some of his ridiculous hops and athleticism. That drive-and-slam over Britt in the UNC game was unreal. Really wish they could resubmit this video with the dunk on Mock in there. That would put him over the top against almost everyone else.

[Championz]

I voted for Brandon Conley, just to piss off redbirdgrad.

[Rollbird5]

Bump, get those votes in

[PantherSigEp]

I voted for Brandon Conley, because I'm a petty person

FTFY.

Thanks for informing us. We're all impressed

[Championz]

I voted for Mario Moody, just to piss off PantherSigEp.

[PantherSigEp]

I voted for Mario Moody, just to piss off PantherSigEp.

UNI beat Wichita, just to piss off Championz.