They play above the rim, exploding from a crowd of bodies and outstretched arms. They routinely soar above - or over - defenders to throw down a dunk, grab a rebound or block a shot. They're college basketball's high flyers.
And while they can be found on courts around the nation, here are six of the best:
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Quincy Acy, F, Baylor. There's no doubting the 6-foot-7 junior's athleticism, not after he threw down 10 dunks - 10! - in a game against Texas in March. When he's not hanging in the air, Acy is averaging about 15 points and nine rebounds per contest for a team that got within a game of the Final Four last season. ''Not only is he good for one or two (highlight) plays a game,'' Baylor coach Scott Drew said, ''but he's got a great name to go with it.''
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Travis Leslie, G, Georgia. Leslie is reminding Bulldogs fans of the days when Dominique Wilkins roamed the court in Athens. His thunderous one-handed dunk while being fouled by Kentucky's Demarcus Cousins at Rupp Arena was one of the top highlights from last season. But he's proving to be more than just a dunker. The 6-4 junior is averaging 14 points and - more impressively - about eight rebounds, prompting South Carolina coach Darrin Horn to describe Leslie to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution last year as ''an athletic freak.''
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Mason Plumlee, F, Duke. The 6-10 sophomore is a big man worthy of being on the list. He has proven he can play above the rim for the reigning national champions. Plumlee has shown an explosive leaping ability on an array of alley-oop dunks and can even be found dunking three balls at once in a video clip on YouTube. Plumlee is also averaging around eight rebounds, at least two more than any other teammate.
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Durrell Summers, G, Michigan State - Coach Tom Izzo has been waiting for Summers to consistently play to his potential, but there's no doubting Summers' ability to get airborne. The Spartans run alley-oop plays for the 6-5 senior, who is averaging almost 15 points per game. He also provided one of the enduring highlights of the 2009 Final Four, leaping over Connecticut's Stanley Robinson in transition and throwing down an emphatic slam. ''Durrell's play was definitely a freakish play,'' teammate Raymar Morgan said afterward. ''He's a tremendous athlete, can jump out of the gym.''
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Billy White, F, San Diego State. White has been a big part of the Aztecs' steady ascent in the rankings under Steve Fisher. The 6-8 senior is averaging about 12 points and four rebounds and has had his share of impressive dunks for a team that is far more athletic than in years past. White's ability to get to the rim has been a big reason why he's shooting around 62 percent for his college career.
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Chris Wright, F, Dayton. A 6-8 senior, Wright boasts a 43-inch vertical leap and is leading his team with about nine rebounds per game. Wright is such a prolific dunker than he already owned the school's career dunks record (133) entering the season, while his 66 dunks last season broke the school's single-season mark he set as a sophomore. Wright is climbing the Flyers' list of career blocked-shot leaders. ''That's what people love to see,'' Wright said, ''guys taking off and being able to dunk and basically being able to look eye-to-eye with the rim.''
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AP Basketball Writer Stephen Hawkins in Dallas, and AP Sports Writer Charles Odum in Atlanta contributed to this report.
