dailyloe.com – Shaqir O’Neal won the College Slam Dunk Championship on Friday, April 3, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Sacramento State forward is the son of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. His victory came before the Men’s Final Four weekend.
O’Neal secured the win over Central Connecticut’s Nico Ashley with impressive dunks. He performed an elbow dunk over two fellow players during the contest. His final attempt was a successful reverse dunk.
He earned two perfect 50-point scores from the judges. This is the highest total possible for a single dunk attempt. The contest showcased his athletic pedigree.
After his win, O’Neal directly addressed his famous father. He referenced a promised financial reward for winning the championship. “Dad, I know you’re watching this,” O’Neal stated.
“You said you have ($10,000) for me if I win this. So, hey, I’m expecting my money,” he told USA TODAY Sports. He concluded with, “Shoutout to my pops.”
Other winners included DePaul’s CJ Gunn in the men’s 3-point contest. Kansas’ Elle Evans won the women’s 3-point contest. Evans also claimed the team shooting competition.
Shaqir O’Neal averaged 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds this season. The 6-foot-8 forward plays for Sacramento State. He previously played at Texas Southern and Florida A&M.
His head coach is former NBA player Mike Bibby. Bibby served his first year as Sacramento State’s head coach this season. He was a notable foe of Shaquille O’Neal during his playing career.
“It’s been an unreal experience,” O’Neal said about playing for Bibby. He praised the coaching staff for caring about players on and off the court. He described the season as “really been a movie.”[]
Source: USA Today
