College basketball has seen plenty of highlight-worthy dunks. There have even been teams that have been known for their dunking. Just think of “Lob City” from the 2013 Florida Gulf Coast team. Some players stand out alone though when throwing down big jams. Look no further than Michigan State’s Coen Carr . He’s one of the most athletic dunkers I have ever seen.
Sure, he’s still only in college, but you could make the case from some of his highlight-worthy dunks that he could compete with those in the NBA in a dunk contest. He’s got some stiff competition from all the years of college basketball as to the best dunkers that have been seen. It’s tough to deny that he might be the best dunker the sport has seen since the likes of Zion Williamson at Duke during the 2018-19 season.
Is Michigan State’s Coen Carr Best College Basketball Dunker Ever?
Carr can hit another level, especially when the Spartans get on a fast-break, and he gets a lob pass from either Jeremy Fears Jr , Tre Holloman , or even Jase Richardson . Sure, there’s a lot more to the game of basketball than dunking, but Coen has taken his ability to jump out of a gym to reality. When you think he can’t top a great dunk, he pulls something else out.
He had two major dunks in the Spartans’ win against Wisconsin this past weekend, and they were unforgettable. One saw him put his teammate Jaxon Kohler on a poster.
Coen Carr’s dunks are game changers
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Head Coach Tom Izzo told reporters post-game that Carr’s dunks should be worth six points. When he’s able to get open and run at the rim, you should expect to see something exciting, and Carr delivers every time. Izzo also talked about how his dunks are game-changing. This is true. Every time he gets to the rim and finishes, it gives life to the rest of the team.
Carr’s Carrying on a Spartan Tradition
Coen Carr is carrying on a pretty strong tradition of big-time dunks. He isn’t the first guy to come through Michigan State who could throw it down in incredible fashion. Look no further than Miles Bridges , as he dazzled for two years with his big-time dunks. Sure, he couldn’t jump as high as Carr can, but like him, his dunks could get the crowd on their feet.
That tradition goes back even further to Jason Richardson , who showcased his dunking ability in his two seasons at Michigan State from 1999-2001. He later carried those big-time dunks to the NBA, where he was a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner. Coen Carr seems destined to be in a dunk contest of some type in the future. This guy has all the tools to throw down something unforgettable.
Where Does He Rank Among Other Famous Dunkers in College Basketball?
You have to throw Coen Carr into the conversation of one of the best collegiate dunkers of all time. No slights against the likes of Bridges or Richardson, but Carr is right up there with Williamson. Zion famously had an inhuman-like athleticism, especially when he got on the fast-break. Carr is of that same cloth when it comes to that skill.
Duke’s Grant Hill and North Carolina’s Jerry Stackhouse could throw it down back in the 1990s. Those two weren’t jumping way above the rim and able to adjust in mid-air like Carr can. I might catch some flack here, but Coen Carr, in my opinion, is the best collegiate dunker ever. Even when you think he can’t do something bigger and better, he does.
It will be interesting to see what else he’s got in his bag for the rest of this season and beyond.
Photo credit: © Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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