College Basketball: 15 Most Rim-Rocking College Hoops Dunks of 2011

A dunk in basketball is arguably one of the most exciting and entertaining things to watch in all of sports.

As 2011 nears a close, college basketball has experienced several highlight-reel dunks that have made us speechless.  Whether it be a dunk from Harrison Barnes against Clemson or some highlights from the NCAA Tournament, each rim-rattling dunk is special in its own way.

So here are the 15 best dunks from college basketball throughout 2011. 

15. It's Nolan Time

Who: Nolan Smith, Duke

When: January 15, 2011

What: Smith gets in the rankings getting the deflection to start the fast break and finishing it off with a dramatic slam. Plus, he makes the Virginia defender look silly as he falls on the court. For a point guard, Smith showed some great ups on the play. 

14. Cory Joseph Against Texas Tech

Who: Cory Joseph, Texas

When: February 5, 2011

What: This dunk makes the list because Joseph did it all himself. He steals the ball at mid-court and finishes the fast break off with a nice slam dunk, despite the opposing player doing his best to chase him down. It does not end well for the Texas Tech player. 

13. The Dayton Flyer

Who: Chris Wright, Dayton

When: January 1, 2011

What: Wright comes all the way from the three-point line to perform the put back dunk over a would-be defensive rebounder. The ending with one hand adds a nice finishing touch to an already impressive dunk.

12. The D.J. Stephens Show

Who: D.J. Stephens, Memphis

When: February 5, 2011

What: Stephens didn't have to go far for this dunk, but the ball never touches his left hand. He catches it with one hand, maintains control of the basketball and slams it home on the opposite side of the basket. This dunk provided an early jolt in a big non-conference matchup. 

11. Mason Plumlee Is in Reverse

Who: Mason Plumlee, Duke

When: November 12, 2011

What: Plumlee exudes some patience in this play as he receives the inbounds pass and waits for the extra defender to run by him. Once he has enough room, he drives hard down the baseline and performs a nice reverse baseline dunk, much to the chagrin of Presbyterian. 

10. Hoosier Power

Who: Victor Oladipo, Indiana

When: December 10, 2011

What: Oladipo has the second-biggest highlight of the night, next to the buzzer beater three-pointer. What makes this dunk so impressive is that he throws it down against the Wildcats' senior leader, Darius Miller. And for a team that prides itself on defense, this dunk hurts their ego some.

9. C.J. Fair Slams DePaul

Who: C.J. Fair, Syracuse

When: March 5, 2011

What: Fair receives the ball at the three-point line and drives hard to the hoop. You have to feel sorry for that DePaul defender. Not only is his team now down 49, but he just got embarrassed in front of thousands of fans.

8. Klay's World

Who: Klay Thompson, Washington State

When: March 24, 2011

What: Thompson makes a great basketball move on the perimeter by ripping the ball through and driving past his defender to the basket. The defender attempts to impede Thompson's drive by going at him with both arms in the air. It's safe to say his plan didn't work.

7. Scotty's Got Hops

Who: Scotty Hopson, Tennessee

When: February 16, 2011

What: The South Carolina defender tries to pick up the charge as Hopson drives to the basket. Instead of going through the defender, Hopson decides to just go over him.

6. Isaiah Thomas Rises Up

Who: Isaiah Thomas, Washington

When: January 6, 2011

What: Thomas delivers an emphatic dunk against conference-foe Oregon. There isn't anything too crazy that happens in the air, but the fact that Thomas, who is only 5'9", can rise up this high, is just down right impressive.

5. Derrick Williams Destroys Duke

Who: Derrick Williams, Arizona

When: March 24, 2011

What: Williams had a career day against Duke in the Sweet 16, but he had some amazing highlight dunks in the process. Here, Williams pump fakes his defender, finds some space in the lane and throws it down with authority.

4. Barnes Makes a Name for Himself

Who: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

When: February 12, 2011

What: Barnes gets the ball at the top of the key while letting the play develop. When he doesn't see anything he takes it into his own hands. This dunk is incredible, not only because of the spin move before the slam, but also because of the force in which he slams the ball and knocks Clemson' Milton Jennings to the ground. It's just filthy.

3. Terrence Jones Takes It Coast to Coast

Who: Terrence Jones, Kentucky

When: January 22, 2011

What: Jones takes the basketball the full length of the court, crosses over his defender and slams it with one hand. It's the full package of Jones' dunk that makes it so noteworthy.

2. Derrick Williams Destroys Duke...Again

Who: Derrick Williams, Arizona

When: March 24, 2011

What: Williams has another monster dunk against Duke in the Sweet 16. This time, Williams gets the put back dunk by grabbing the ball at his side with one hand and slamming it down with the same hand. Unfortunately for Duke, it was at Kyle Singler's expense. 

1. Kyle Kuric Takes It Home

Who: Kyle Kuric, Louisville

When: February 9, 2011  

What: Kuric provides us with the No. 1 dunk in 2011 by slamming it home against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. He makes a mockery of the defender who tries to take a charge. Even though he got a technical, the look he gives the Notre Dame player afterward makes the dunk that much more epic.