Can Gabby Dunk?

[FanHam]

She high jumped 6'2 1/4" at the Olympic trials when she was 15. I realize she's had a few knee injuries since then, but can she dunk? Could she ever? Does anyone know? Just curious...

My guess is "yes".

 

[HuskyPhan]

She can throw down a softball but not a basketball-yet.

 

[bizarro aj]

She should be able to, but maya is the greatest dunker i have seen in wbb.

 

[CocoHusky]

Something I posted two years ago
"For the most part the quantifiable athleticism that they are talking about is vertical jumping and because we are talking about basketball when the rim is 10' high it definitely translates to basketball. It goes by other names hops, explosiveness, & ups but for the most part it is how high you can get up in the air. I don't know if UCONN "officially" test the players for vertical leaping ability but at least once per game you will see Gabby leap off the floor like she has been shot out of cannon. Many of us did not take Gabby Dad seriously last year when he said "I can't stop her ( Gabby) from playing but I want to make sure she at the level she needs to be. So I've kind of challenged her and told her, 'When you can dunk the basketball consistently, you can play.' "
https://www.sny.tv/uconn/news/recruit-williams-on-track-to-get-back-on-court/148619324
If and when Gabby does dunk in a game she will be the first (maybe last or only woman) under 6' 4"' foot to achieve the feat."

 

[Fishbone]

She should be able to, but maya is the greatest dunker i have seen in wbb.

What about Btitteny Griner?

 

[bizarro aj]

What about Btitteny Griner?

Just because she's tall doesn't make her a great dunker. I have seen maya do MJ style dunks where she takes off from the foul line and slams it home. Griner doesn't have the athletic ability to do that. Her dunks are like stewies dunks from underneath the basket. Griner isn't even a great rebounder for her height.

 

[Scud49]

 

[triaddukefan]

Something I posted two years ago
"For the most part the quantifiable athleticism that they are talking about is vertical jumping and because we are talking about basketball when the rim is 10' high it definitely translates to basketball. It goes by other names hops, explosiveness, & ups but for the most part it is how high you can get up in the air. I don't know if UCONN "officially" test the players for vertical leaping ability but at least once per game you will see Gabby leap off the floor like she has been shot out of cannon. Many of us did not take Gabby Dad seriously last year when he said "I can't stop her ( Gabby) from playing but I want to make sure she at the level she needs to be. So I've kind of challenged her and told her, 'When you can dunk the basketball consistently, you can play.' "
https://www.sny.tv/uconn/news/recruit-williams-on-track-to-get-back-on-court/148619324
If and when Gabby does dunk in a game she will be the first (maybe last or only woman) under 6' 4"' foot to achieve the feat."

Charlotte Smith dunked at 6'0

 

[JordyG]

One of the issues that keep small performers who are great leapers from dunking the ball is the lack of hands large enough to get a good enough grip on the ball. Butch Lee, a great leaper in the Association always had a problem because of his small hands. I think with Gabby this is perhaps the primary issue.

 

[Sonny44]

Working on dunking would be the worst thing she could do. The stress to the knee(s) could jeopardize her BB career; the benefit doesn't outweigh the risk IMO.
Stay away from it kid.

 

[Carnac]

Something I posted two years ago
"For the most part the quantifiable athleticism that they are talking about is vertical jumping and because we are talking about basketball when the rim is 10' high it definitely translates to basketball. It goes by other names hops, explosiveness, & ups but for the most part it is how high you can get up in the air. I don't know if UCONN "officially" test the players for vertical leaping ability but at least once per game you will see Gabby leap off the floor like she has been shot out of cannon. Many of us did not take Gabby Dad seriously last year when he said "I can't stop her ( Gabby) from playing but I want to make sure she at the level she needs to be. So I've kind of challenged her and told her, 'When you can dunk the basketball consistently, you can play.' "
https://www.sny.tv/uconn/news/recruit-williams-on-track-to-get-back-on-court/148619324
If and when Gabby does dunk in a game she will be the first (maybe last or only woman) under 6' 4"' foot to achieve the feat."

Sorry to burst your bubble Coco. Check out Florida State's Shakaya Thomas. She, like Gabby is only 5' 11". SHE CAN DUNK!!!! Click the link tab for visual evidence.

[LINK]

 

[MilfordHusky]

Charlotte Smith dunked at 6'0

She was very athletic, but she played for ... well, you know, that team in light blue.

 

[Buzzyboy]

She high jumped 6'2 1/4" at the Olympic trials when she was 15. I realize she's had a few knee injuries since then, but can she dunk? Could she ever? Does anyone know? Just curious...

My guess is "yes".

I personally think that it would almost be silly for her to attempt dunks and put any undue stress on her knees and possibly injure herself for something so frivolous. The beauty of UConn basketball is that there is no need for showboat or above the rim nonsense that does nothing but showcase athleticism that we already know Gabby has in spades. Using her athleticism the way she does, in the course of normal game conditions to block shots, run down fast breaks, block shots, etc. means so much more.

 

[THEMAN/MAN]

I get so nervous when Gabby skies like she does , it takes your breath away, she has to be the most watchable hoops player , mens included!!!

 

[Striper69]

One of the issues that keep small performers who are great leapers from dunking the ball is the lack of hands large enough to get a good enough grip on the ball. Butch Lee, a great leaper in the Association always had a problem because of his small hands. I think with Gabby this is perhaps the primary issue.

One night I was warming up by myself in a small church gym. I'm 6'0" and could jump pretty good then. A shorter guy came by me and started warming up. He was about 5'7" or so. All of a sudden he took off and slammed the ball like Dr. J!

I was blown away. He said he didn't do anything special but was able to jump that high naturally. His hands weren't big at all.

One of the guys on ort church league team had brought him to play with us.

 

[Striper69]

I get so nervous when Gabby skies like she does , it takes your breath away, she has to be the most watchable hoops player , mens included!!!

I saw her up close at the Nebraska game.

Reminded me of myself back in the day...

 

[SVCBeercats]

She can throw down a softball but not a basketball-yet.

Question: Who has the best vertical, Maya or Gabby?
Gabby 5'11" Maya 6' 0" Gabby dunks a softball. Maya dunks a basketball.

 

[JordyG]

One night I was warming up by myself in a small church gym. I'm 6'0" and could jump pretty good then. A shorter guy came by me and started warming up. He was about 5'7" or so. All of a sudden he took off and slammed the ball like Dr. J!

I was blown away. He said he didn't do anything special but was able to jump that high naturally. His hands weren't big at all.

One of the guys on ort church league team had brought him to play with us.

Dunking in a gym and dunking in game are two different things. So often I've seen guys with smaller hands have the ball roll off mid jump as the sweat and excitement of the moment ruins their chances.

 

[JordyG]

I saw her up close at the Nebraska game.

Reminded me of myself back in the day...

Which part. The nervousness or the shortness of breath.

 

[SCspur]

Just because she's tall doesn't make her a great dunker. I have seen maya do MJ style dunks where she takes off from the foul line and slams it home. Griner doesn't have the athletic ability to do that. Her dunks are like stewies dunks from underneath the basket. Griner isn't even a great rebounder for her height.

Is their some sort of video of maya doing this? I'm not trying to discredit you or anything but I just wanted to see her dunk from the free throw line.

 

[stamfordhusky]

Just because she's tall doesn't make her a great dunker. I have seen maya do MJ style dunks where she takes off from the foul line and slams it home. Griner doesn't have the athletic ability to do that. Her dunks are like stewies dunks from underneath the basket. Griner isn't even a great rebounder for her height.

Maya has great jumping ability, but she can't come close to taking off from the foul line and dunking. She would be the first to tell you that.

 

[VAMike23]

Question: Who has the best vertical, Maya or Gabby?
Gabby 5'11" Maya 6' 0" Gabby dunks a softball. Maya dunks a basketball.

Gabby, in the past at least, was said by her dad to be able to dunk in HS. I think she is closer to 5'10" , and besides being shorter than Maya does not have Maya's wingspan.

Threads on this topic in past years estimated Gabby's vertical at somewhere in the low to mid 30"s. Maya's was documented at 28" about the time she graduated high school, IIRC.

 

[VAMike23]

Just because she's tall doesn't make her a great dunker. I have seen maya do MJ style dunks where she takes off from the foul line and slams it home. Griner doesn't have the athletic ability to do that. Her dunks are like stewies dunks from underneath the basket. Griner isn't even a great rebounder for her height.

Say what ....??? Not on a standard 10' rim!

 

[Fishbone]

Just because she's tall doesn't make her a great dunker. I have seen maya do MJ style dunks where she takes off from the foul line and slams it home. Griner doesn't have the athletic ability to do that. Her dunks are like stewies dunks from underneath the basket. Griner isn't even a great rebounder for her height.

You must be kidding or you did not see much of her play.
I love Gabby's game. She is an incredible leaper, but she is not a great dunker.

 

[triaddukefan]

Say what ....??? Not on a standard 10' rim!

Well the posters name is bizarro