A collection of photos showcasing Madison area boys basketball players who have risen to the rim throughout the 2025-26 season.Â
Madison La Follette's Thian Riak caps the team’s pre-game warmup session with a dunk before a Big Eight Conference road matchup against Middleton on Wednesday in Middleton. The dunk is considered the top highlight in boys basketball by many area players.
JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Madison La Follette’s Thian Riak dunks the ball during the first half Wednesday in Middleton.
JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Sun Prairie West junior Zaivion Goudeau goes up for a dunk in warmups before a game against Madison West on Feb. 3 in Sun Prairie.
OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Verona's Owen Ayite-Atayi soars for a one-handed dunk during a Big Eight Conference game against Madison La Follette on Jan. 28 at Verona High School.
SEAN DAVIS, LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Verona's Will Stremlow leaps for a one-handed dunk during a Big Eight Conference game against Madison La Follette on Jan. 28 at Verona High School.
SEAN DAVIS, LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN archives
Sun Prairie West boys basketball's Zaivion Goudeau dunks during the first half of Tuesday's Big Eight Conference matchup against Madison West.Â
NILE MCNAIR, STATE JOURNAL
Madison La Follette boys basketball's Thian Riak attempts a posterizing dunk over Middleton's Will Russell (14) during the Big Eight Conference rivals' matchup Wednesday.
NILE MCNAIR, STATE JOURNAL
Verona boys basketball's Owen Ayite-Atayi jumps for a dunk during Thursday's season opener against Sun Prairie East.Â
High school boys basketball athletes from across the state still vividly remember their first dunk. Learn why dunking still resonates most with area hoopers, more than any other highlight play.
Hear from three area players — Monona Grove's Jayden Jackson, Austin Luchetti and Sun Prairie West's Zaivion Goudeau — about why dunking is high school basketball's top highlight.
