April 4, 2026, 11:43 a.m. ET
Sacramento State forward Shaqir O’Neal – sure, the son of Shaq – received the College Slam Dunk Championship on Friday, April 3, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis earlier than the Men’s Final Four.
Shaqir O’Neal, sporting his dad’s “Shaq” shoe model, elbow-dunked over two fellow gamers and threw down a reverse on his closing try and safe the win over Central Connecticut’s Nico Ashley. He completed with two 50-point scores, the best whole attainable on a single dunk.
“Dad, I know you’re watching this,” Shaqir O’Neal stated after his win. “You said you have ($10,000) for me if I win this. So, hey, I’m expecting my money. Shoutout to my pops.”
DePaul’s CJ Gunn received the boys’s 3-point contest and Kansas’ Elle Evans received the ladies’s 3-point contest. Evans additionally took house two extra awards, profitable the crew capturing competitors alongside Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer and Portland State’s Jaylin Henderson earlier than defeating Gunn within the 3-point shootout between champions.
Shaqir O’Neal averaged 5.3 factors with 3.2 rebounds per sport this season at Sacramento State. The 6-foot-8 ahead began his profession at Texas Southern, the place he held a small position off the bench for 2 seasons earlier than transferring to Florida A&M in 2024-25.
Shaqir O’Neal performs for his dad’s former Sacramento Kings foe Mike Bibby, who served his first 12 months as Sacramento State head coach this season.
“It’s been an unreal experience,” Shaqir O’Neal instructed USA TODAY Sports. “Coach Bibby and his staff, they really care about the players, just on and off the court. They made sure they built that relationship with us early in the summer. It’s really been a movie with all the press and all this stuff. And haters and this and that. And the ups and downs. Us losing players to injuries, like it’s been real, it’s been crazy, but it’s been a great learning experience.”
Four of Shaquille O’Neal’s kids performed Division I college basketball, together with sons Shaqir O’Neal and Shareef O’Neal (UCLA, LSU), and daughters Amirah O’Neal, a former most well-liked walk-on at LSU and Me’Arah O’Neal, who averaged over 13 factors per sport at Florida this season.
None of Shaq’s kids turned out to be almost pretty much as good as their Hall of Fame dad that received 4 NBA championships. But Shaqir O’Neal certain can dunk like his dad may, though no backboards have been shattered.
Shaqir O’Neal college dunk contest highlights
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