Last updated: August 27, 2026 · Published: August 26, 2026
Twenty-one-year-old Cam Hazzard walked into Atlanta’s Overtime Elite Arena in July having never entered a dunk contest in his life. Five weeks later, the Abilene Christian University student from Little Elm, Texas, was the No. 2 seed in the championship of Shaquille O’Neal’s new professional dunk league, Dunkman, with $500,000 on the line.
Key facts at a glance
| Dunker | Cam Hazzard, 21, Little Elm, Texas |
| College | Abilene Christian University, 4.0 GPA |
| The league | Dunkman, Shaq’s 24-dunker pro league with TNT Sports |
| Group stage | Won Group A on July 21, earning $35,000 |
| Championship | Tuesday, Aug 25, Overtime Elite Arena, Atlanta |
| Grand prize | $500,000 |
| Hazzard’s seed | No. 2 of 8; first duel against Joel Henry of England |
| Broadcast | TNT and truTV, live at 8 p.m. ET |
From side hobby to prime time
Hazzard carries a triple major in accounting, finance and information systems, a 4.0 GPA and a background as a teaching assistant. He was a basketball co-captain and marching band brass captain at Frisco Lone Star High School. Dunking, he says, was never the plan. “I always view dunking as a side hobby,” Hazzard told The Dallas Morning News. “I never saw it as even a possibility of a career. But this is changing the game pretty fast.” O’Neal reportedly spotted Hazzard’s dunks on social media and made him one of the league’s 24 invitees. The two first met in person on July 16 at Fanatics Fest in New York. His growing platform has also led to a Pat McAfee Show appearance, work with Dude Perfect and a connection with NBA 2K.
A $35,000 night in Atlanta
In his first-ever dunk competition on July 21, Hazzard beat seven competitors to win Group A, pocketing $35,000. The night’s signature moment was a 360-degree tomahawk with his eyes nearly at rim level, which earned a $10,000 dunk-of-the-night bonus. His 360 between-the-legs dunk went viral, and the Bleacher Report clip of the tomahawk has piled up hundreds of thousands of views.
Hazzard wants McClung next
Days before Tuesday’s final, Hazzard told TMZ Sports he was locked in on first-round opponent Joel Henry — but already eyeing top seed Mac McClung, the three-time NBA dunk contest champ. “Of course I’ve thought about going against Mac. He’s a huge name everybody always considers him the GOAT of dunking,” Hazzard said. “Instead of getting scared I want to face him. I want to show him what I have. Even if he beats me, at least I can say I tried.” He even found a sign it’s meant to happen: “My name is Cam and Cam backwards is Mac. So, it’s pretty much meant for him.” A win over Henry would have set up a matchup with Isaiah Rivera, a dunker Hazzard says he’s watched for years.
Watch: What the videos show
The 360 tomahawk that impressed Shaq
The dunk that won the dunk-of-the-night bonus and helped seal a $35,000 night. Commentators: “He had no gravity on that, man” and “Somebody turned the gravity sliders way down.” Judges scored the dunk 9.4 and 9.5 as O’Neal looked on.
Every Hazzard dunk from the Group A stage
A TNT Sports full cut of every Group A dunk, posted ahead of the finals. The broadcast notes his 44-inch standing vertical and 49 inches with a run-up, and shows the final dunk where he needed an 8 to advance.
What is confirmed vs speculation
| Confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Hazzard won Group A on July 21 with a $35,000 payout | The championship result — the final aired Tuesday, Aug 25 |
| He was the No. 2 seed, facing Joel Henry in round one | A future matchup with Mac McClung — contingent on both advancing |
| Measured 44-inch standing vertical, 49-inch running vertical (TNT broadcast) | Whether dunking becomes a full-time career — he calls it a side hobby so far |
| Grand prize is $500,000 | His long-term NBA or league prospects |
Frequently asked questions
Who is Cam Hazzard?
A 21-year-old student at Abilene Christian University from Little Elm, Texas, with a 4.0 GPA and a triple major in accounting, finance and information systems. He is also a viral dunker in Shaq’s Dunkman league.
What is Dunkman?
Shaquille O’Neal’s professional dunk league with TNT Sports, featuring 24 dunkers competing for a $500,000 grand prize.
How did Hazzard get into the league?
O’Neal reportedly spotted his dunks on social media and made him one of the league’s 24 invitees. They first met at Fanatics Fest in New York on July 16.
How much has Hazzard won?
$35,000 for winning Group A on July 21, including a $10,000 dunk-of-the-night bonus for his 360-degree tomahawk.
What is Hazzard’s vertical?
TNT’s broadcast measured a 44-inch standing vertical and 49 inches with a run-up.
Who is the top seed?
Mac McClung, the three-time NBA dunk contest champion. Hazzard said he wants to face him.
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Sources: The Dallas Morning News, TMZ Sports, The Sporting News via Yahoo Sports, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
