Sac State's Shaqir O'Neal wins NCAA dunk contest. ‘Shout out Shaq State!’
Shaqir O’Neal made his grand entrance as coach Mike Bibby’s first recruit at Sacramento State on the eve of the season.
The son of a retired NBA great in Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, the younger O’Neal dazzled a packed house inside the old gym on campus called the “Nest” by winning the university’s slam dunk contest in what the school deemed “Hornet Madness.”
On Friday night, the 6-foot-8 forward won an even bigger dunk contest. He did so in front a nationally televised audience on ESPN in claiming the WWE-like belt at the 37th State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-point Championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, site of the men’s Final Four of NCAA March Madness.
O’Neal became the first Sac State player to win this event, and he delivered the best showing since former Grant High School star Jameel Pugh finished as the runner-up in 2005.
O’Neal won the Hornet Madness dunk deal by soaring over 6-foot-11 Brad Miller, the former Sacramento Kings forward who worked as an adviser to former Kings teammate Bibby this season.
In Indianapolis, O’Neal impressed the judges and the fans with an array of dunks, including reverse efforts. He also jumped over someone for a dunk. O’Neal was surrounded by giddy kids after the event while talking to ESPN. He won the event with a 180-degree dunk.
“It was a lot of pressure,” O’Neal told ESPN.
Asked if he got any advice from his father, a renowned thunder dunker at just over 7 feet tall and in excess of 340 pounds, though he did not have near the creativity of his much more slender and agile son. Said O’Neal to ESPN, looking into the camera, “I know you’re watching this. You say you got 10 grand for me if I win this. So, hey, I’m expecting my money. Shout out to my pops. He got me new shoes. Shout out Shaq State!”
O’Neal was one of two seniors who bid farewell to the program on Senior Night inside Hornet Pavilion. His famous father was on hand, their bond close.
This story was originally published April 4, 2026 at 1:31 PM.