What percentage of NCAA XC runners can windmill dunk?

I’d bet less than 2% can dunk at all. And maybe 2 total can windmill.

Think of how many people, even good athletes, under 6’ can dunk at all. There’s usually like one per high school and they probably don’t run XC.

For what it’s worth, I’m 6’ even and can one hand dunk with some effort. Not even close to windmill. I’ve never had a XC teammate of any height who could dunk through HS and a top d3 school.

Real talk wrote:

I’d bet less than 2% can dunk at all. And maybe 2 total can windmill.

Think of how many people, even good athletes, under 6’ can dunk at all. There’s usually like one per high school and they probably don’t run XC.

For what it’s worth, I’m 6’ even and can one hand dunk with some effort. Not even close to windmill. I’ve never had a XC teammate of any height who could dunk through HS and a top d3 school.

yeah but how many have really tried when properly motivated?

Interesting thread. I'd say less than 1%. Guys on my XC team in the late 90's were the most uncoordinated goofs I'd ever seen in life. They could run, but nothing else. I remember one day bringing a football to chuck around before the coach arrived and most of these dudes could barely throw a football, let alone hold it properly. I'd say 0.5%.

If you are talking NCAA long distance runners (say 1500 and above) - and assuming serious runners (let’s say sub 350/1420/2930) - then... you could count on one hand. All those miles kill the explosiveness.

I will personally pay any d1 cross country runner whos team is inside the top 50, 100 dollars to see them windmill dunk on a 10' hoop. Steph curry can probably barely windmill dunk and hes 6'3

Less than 1%

About the same amount that can Long Jump 24' or High Jump 6'4

At Cornell University they have an incredible piece of scientific equipment known as the Tunneling Electron Microscope. Now, this microscope is so powerful that by firing electrons you can actually see images of the atom, the infinitesimally minute building blocks of our universe. If I were using that microscope right now, I still wouldn't be able to locate my interest in your problem.

Frasier Crane wrote:

At Cornell University they have an incredible piece of scientific equipment known as the Tunneling Electron Microscope. Now, this microscope is so powerful that by firing electrons you can actually see images of the atom, the infinitesimally minute building blocks of our universe. If I were using that microscope right now, I still wouldn't be able to locate my interest in your problem.

The was an awkward way to brag to letsrun community that you are a trust fund Ivy League kid.

That was not subtle wrote:

Frasier Crane wrote:

At Cornell University they have an incredible piece of scientific equipment known as the Tunneling Electron Microscope. Now, this microscope is so powerful that by firing electrons you can actually see images of the atom, the infinitesimally minute building blocks of our universe. If I were using that microscope right now, I still wouldn't be able to locate my interest in your problem.

The was an awkward way to brag to letsrun community that you are a trust fund Ivy League kid.

Read his name. It's a pop culture meme, you uncultured swine.

It's just hoops wrote:

I mean they are running 80 miles a week, always on their legs. Those legs have got to be STRONG with all that running.

Running 80 miles a week absolutely kills you vertical. It builds up your slow twitch muscles and does not help you jumping muscles. It just makes them tired.

Frasier Crane wrote:

At Cornell University they have an incredible piece of scientific equipment known as the Tunneling Electron Microscope. Now, this microscope is so powerful that by firing electrons you can actually see images of the atom, the infinitesimally minute building blocks of our universe. If I were using that microscope right now, I still wouldn't be able to locate my interest in your problem.

you raise an interesting question though......could Frasier dunk?

how about in his prime? He's pretty tall with lanky arms and large mitts, could probably palm the ball.

The Starved Elephant wrote:

That was not subtle wrote:

The was an awkward way to brag to letsrun community that you are a trust fund Ivy League kid.

Read his name. It's a pop culture meme, you uncultured swine.

Props to OP.

It's just hoops wrote:

with no training....like if the coach randomly rolled out a portable 10-foot hoop on the first day of fall practice and said "Ok Boys, let's see what you got? Can't dunk? Can't run for this team!"

I'd say about 80% of them could probably at least throw down a regular dunk if they were motivated. Definitely could with a few weeks practice, like if they heard a rumor about the dunk test from the year before and did some dunk reps at the local park a few times during the summer.

I mean they are running 80 miles a week, always on their legs. Those legs have got to be STRONG with all that running.

But a windmill? I'd be surprised if more than 2-3 people on each team could windmill. That takes some real hops.

First start with how many can palm a basketball. That takes out 95%. Then take out the unathletic.

You are left with basically zero who can do it. I’m sure there’s an outlier. But practically speaking, no top XC runners can windmill.

I would guess about 80% of the runners over 6 feet could touch the rim, 20% could dunk a tennis ball, 2% a volleyball and 1% a basketball.

Like 0.00001 %

Age 13, as a chubby fella, app. 25% body fat, I could vertical jump and touch half way up the net, a few inches below the rim. Five-ten by age 17, but I put in road mileage, I couldn't touch the net any higher. At age 17, my body fat was (6 or 7)%.

This should end the thread. I did some number crunching and figured it all out. Currently, 0.495% of NCAA cross country MALE runners can successfully complete at least one windmill dunk if given up to 10 attempts in a one hour sitting. This is slightly higher than the average percentage since 1972, which is 0.462%. The top year was 1997, where an incredible 1.575% could successfully complete a windmill dunk. The worse year was 2012. Only 0.248% could windmill dunk. I have the breakdowns by division I, II, and III if you would like them. Unfortunately, I don’t have the latest community college or NAIA statistics. The numbers prior to 1972 has been lost or proven to be inaccurate.

For the above data, redshirts didn’t count, and those that dropped from the roster (for whatever reason- kicked off team, disenrolled, etc) prior to October 15 were also not considered in the data.

On another note, since the inception of the NCAA women’s cross country championships, only one female has been able to windmill dunk . Her name will remain anonymous .

Steph curry can't windmill.

Also I could dunk when I ran. I can dunk much easier now that I don't run actually.