Grand Haven's VanArendonk shatters the backboard

March 17, 2010 Comments { 18 }

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Check out the guys in the stands "Duuuuuuude!!" | DavidChandlerPhoto.com

UPDATE: We have pictures (from David Chandler Photography), and video (from WZZM13.com and from FOX17.com), people!

This is just sick.  From the Venerable One:

Grand Haven’s Nate VanArendonk shuffled toward the basket, grabbed the basketball with two hands and went up strong and slammed it through the hoop, bending the rim on the way down.

And the backboard shattered.

While the crowd gathered for the Class A regional final with Rockford was silent for a moment, as the shock of seeing glass strewn about the court sunk in, the 6-foot-9 VanArendonk screamed, chest bumped two of his teammates and raised his arms to the crowd.

Slowly, the fans filtered onto the court, snapping pictures with cell phones of what was left of the backboard. The remaining glass was a spider web of shatters, and right under a huge hole, the rim, which still was supported by safety supports, hung.

VanArenDUNK. Sick. | DavidChandlerPhoto.com

Having begun at Grandville high school, after what will henceforth be known as “the VanArendunk” the game was relocated to Jenison high school to finish up.  Grand Haven went on to win the game, 39-36.

And in an oddly prophetic move, the Grand Haven Tribune published an article earlier today entitled, “VanAren-dunks spark Buccaneers.”  Yup.  They’re psychics over on the lakeshore.  Attaboy, Matt DeYoung.

Here’s a relevant excerpt:

While the exact number of dunks escapes him, there’s one that stands out above the crowd — a poster-worthy two-hander right in the face of Hudsonville’s 6-1 senior Nick VanLoo.

“That was my favorite one,” VanArendonk said. “That’s the most man-like I’ve ever gone to the rim.”

Not anymore.

Stay tuned tomorrow for FULL coverage, including professional photography from WMA’s boy, David Chandler.

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  • BBallFan

    “…a poster-worthy two-hander right in the face of Hudsonville’s 6-1 senior Nick VanLoo.”

    C’mon now. A 6’9″ player dunking on a 6’1″ player is poster worthy? That should happen pretty often when you have an 8 inch height advantage.

    • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

      Lol I see you’re point, BBallFan. But you’re totally focusing on the wrong part of the story, here.

  • T. Danger

    It doesn’t matter, because that dunk is all but forgotten. Holy Bejeesus!!!

  • Not_Impressed

    Seeing the video, I wasn’t impressed. A 6′ 9” player dunks and hangs on the rim, and his weight breaks the glass. It wasn’t really a “thunder-dunk”. There is supposed to be a technical foul called for hanging on the rim after a dunk — unless the player (and refs) feel there is a safety issue. There was nobody on the floor under VanArnDonk. I have seen the “T” called in a couple of BigTen games this year.

    But, this dunk is getting so much publicity, it will likely spark a bunch of copy-cats trying to 1-up it. Hope there’s a lot of replacement backboards or alternative sites available. Nice.

    • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

      Anyone else see this “hanging?” I’ve watched the video more times than I care to admit, but I still don’t see it…

      • WMCBballFan

        I have no idea where a technical foul could be called for that dunk. Nate didn’t even hang really at all….the board broke almost instantly as the break-away rim went! Thinking that dunk should have a Technical Foul called…..Im just hope they never let you ref a game!

  • GHFAN

    Give the kid some credit, sheesh.
    Go Bucs

    • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

      I’m with you, GHFAN. It was sweet, but it was the type of sweet (as seen on ESPN) that some need to explain away as not quite as sweet as it actually was, so that they can wrap their minds around the sweetness of it all.

      Sweet.

      • GHFAN

        Yeah, what’s up with that. Keep drinkin the haterade.

  • KCGIANTSFAN

    Hmmmm….while this type of event might mystify people over on the lake shore, (and I say this emphatically) “Grand Haven is in NO way shape or form matched with the athleticism and skill of a team like K-Central….period.” I agree with simple physics on this one. A 200+ pound, 6’9″ kid is suppossed to shatter boards…..if he could even get off the ground at all. LOL…the KC v.s GH match up should be entertaining at best.

  • GHFAN

    & I didn’t see any “hanging”, either. Just an epic, epic dunk.

  • Familyfriend

    What is so great about Nate is the way he handles himself off the court. He would probably tell you that this dunk was no different than any other dunk that he has had but it could not have happened at a better time to a humbler guy!

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  • This Guy

    How many College and pro athletes do you see shatter a backboard??? It’s pretty much unheard of in a high school game… hence the reason it was on espn. Props to VanArenDonk and GH.

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  • http://yahoo.com Casey Chancellor

    O my god Nate you are the best basketball player in the state of Michigan and i wish i could dunk like you did how you guys lose your next game though you guys suck Western Michigan Christian is the best around

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