Donovan Hawkins is one of the most exciting and underrated dunkers on the scene, a 20-year-old, 6'4" athlete who jumps out of the gym and punches home nearly every dunk he attempts. Widely regarded as one of the best dunkers of 2024, he is known for his under-both-legs scorpion combinations and for never needing props or push-off dunks to make an impact.
What makes Donovan's rise so unusual is that he never played organized basketball. He grew up playing hockey from age 5 to 16 and only started dunking for fun on an adjustable hoop his dad bought him. A single Dunkademics video featuring Tyler Currie set his entire trajectory, and Currie remains the only dunker he models his technique after years later.
His progression outside the traditional basketball pipeline has been staggering: his first dunk came at 15, his first Eastbay at 16, and his first under-both-legs at 17, each a dunk most amateurs spend years chasing. Doing it all with minimal jump-specific training, Donovan has become living proof that raw athleticism and relentless creativity can carry a dunker to the very top of the sport.