Photos by Christopher Taylor
Skylar Stephens Data News Weekly Contributor
While so many things were going on all over New Orleans during Final Four weekend where the Kanas Jayhawks captured their fourth NCAA National Championship. But that was not all that was going on in New Orleans.
Fans from everywhere packed Xavier University of Louisiana’s Convocation Center on March 31st to see the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championship. The best college basketball players in the country came out to play in the 33rd Annual Event. Twenty-four athletes came to partake in three events, but only three left as the winners.
“If I could describe tonight in one word, it would be amazing. I felt like a little kid in a candy story,” said Taze Moore, a guard at the University of Houston.
Moore won the College Slam Dunk title against six other players. He went up against Alondes Williams from Wake Forest University in the final round and was able to bring enough skill to take home the championship belt. Moore’s success was no surprise given that he will be entering the 2022 National Basketball Association Draft. He ended the contest earning perfect scores for each of his final dunks, proving why he is amongst the best players.
“It’s a blessing to be here around all of these great players. They picked me to be one of the best shooters in the country so I’m grateful to be here,” said Amber Ramirez, a guard from the University of Arkansas.
Along with Ramirez, seven other women played in the women’s 3-Point Competition. Kendall Spray from Florida Gulf Coast University was the winner of this category. Aisha Sheppard from Virginia Tech University was able to make it to the final round with Spray but with a score of 23-16, Spray took the title and moved onto the Battle of the Champions.
The Battle of the Champions consisted of Spray and Jordan Bohannon, a player from the University of Iowa and the winner of the Men’s 3 Point Competition. Despite her previous win, Spray lost this 3-point contest to Bohannon with a score of 19-21.
Bohannon, Spray, and Moore got to take home their titles, but every player proved why they were among the premier players in the country at the slam.
“This had to have been one of the best fields this event has ever had. This was a cool event. I was very fortunate to win,” Bohannon said.
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