AMHERST — There’s something about dunkers. There’s a split second when the guy with springs in his feet gets the ball with nothing between him and the net that everyone watching wonders.
The split second feels like longer. What’s he going to do?
UMass has had lots of those guys in its history. Julius Erving was the greatest dunker in college when doing so was illegal. Will Herndon, Andre Burks, Jameel Pugh, Mike Lasme, Raheim Lamb, Raphiael Putney and Maxie Esho were all one breakaway from a spot on SportsCenter’s top 10 plays.
Unique McLean holds the torch now. The freshman arrives with a YouTube resume filled with dunks from contests, AAU and high school games.
UMass fans can get their first look at McLean and the other six newcomers at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Thursday at 7 p.m.
“It’s a chance to introduce the new team to the public,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. “With some local guys and some new players, I thought the Basketball Hall of Fame would be a good venue for people to see the guys.”
Kellogg will introduce the players while the hoop band and cheerleaders perform on the hall’s center court. The team will also hold a short mini-practice.
Kellogg said with the Hall of Fame portraits of Dr. J., Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins looking down on them, there will be some dunking on display.
He said McLean measures up with any dunkers he’s had.
“He’s one of the better dunkers I’ve ever seen,” Kellogg said. “We’ll probably let him do one of his famous ones to close out the evening.”
McLean’s not alone. Every scholarship player on the roster can dunk, including 5-foot-10 Luwane Pipkins.
“It reminds me of some of the more athletic teams we’ve had here,” Kellogg said. “They’re thinner and younger, but from a physical, more athletic standpoint, and an above the rim standpoint, it’s either the or the second most athletic team I’ve had here.”
In warm-up lines to start practice, player after player will often throw down athletic dunks effortlessly.
Still, McLean said they’re not trying to one-up each other.
“Everybody knows I’m going to win that one,” he said. “But it’s fun to see everyone in a layup line show what they can do.”
If McLean never dunks in a game, the same athleticism that makes him an artist above the rim, is an asset to his overall game. He doesn’t have a natural position, but for Kellogg, who values versatility, that’s been more of a positive than a drawback.
“Unique can play a lot of different spots on the floor, from a one to a four. He rebounds like a four man and guards the ball on defense like a one,” Kellogg said. “I’m putting him in that old Will Herndon mode. He’s a really good athlete who can play the game of basketball. He can really help us in a lot of different spots.
“Our style of play allows a lot of people top play a lot of different spots and not be pigeonholed,” he continued.
McLean didn’t care where he played.
“I’m a basketball player. It doesn’t matter what position he puts me in,” he said. “I can guard the three man or a stretch four if he needs me to. Because of my athleticism, I can guard bigger guards. We need an athletic team to play in this conference.”
PARQUET PASS — UMass has introduced a new ticketing option. Fans can purchase tickets to all 18 games for $75. Tickets will be sent digitally to the purchasers cell phone. Seat location will vary based on game and availability.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage