VIDEO: EJ Bush Dark Horse Dunker Reel
NEW ORLEANS - Carson-Newman senior forward EJ Bush (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) is one of six small college basketball players up for consideration for the 2022 Dark Horse Dunker.
Fans can vote for Bush at CollegeSlam.com throughout the competition.
Intersport, producers of the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships, announced that first-round voting for the 2022 "Dark Horse Dunker" competition will begin Friday at 1 p.m. ET. The field is stacked with under-the-radar players from all levels of college basketball who possess the power, creativity, and hops to compete against high-major stars in the Great Clips College Slam Dunk Championship. Fans will determine the winner by voting daily at CollegeSlam.com throughout the competition.
Three players will be pitted against each other on each side of the bracket, and the player that receives the most votes in each matchup will advance to the finals. The first round of voting begins Friday at 1 p.m. ET and concludes March 22 at 1 p.m. ET. The schedule for the competition is as follows:
Round One: March 11 at 1 p.m. ET through March 16 at 1 p.m. ET (six players)
Finals: March 17 at 1 p.m. ET through March 22 at 1 p.m. ET (two Players)
The player that ultimately receives the most votes in the final round will have the opportunity to compete in the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships, an event featuring some of the best college dunkers and 3-point shooters in the country. The 2022 State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships will be held at 9 p.m. ET on March 31 and will be televised on ESPN.
The following are the six "Dark Horse Dunkers" competing in the contest for their chance to showcase their talents in the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships:
Devante Brooks, Southern Arkansas
EJ Bush, Carson-Newman
Branden Ellis, Lynn
Obiajulum Okafor, Drury
Warren Richardson, Letourneau
RJ Smith, Missouri Southern
Previous State Farm "Dark Horse Dunker" winners include TJ Crockett (Lindenwood) in 2021, Wayne Stewart (Texas A&M Commerce) in 2020, Roderick Howell (North Greenville) in 2019, Max Pearce (Purchase College) in 2018, Antonius Cleveland (Southeast Missouri State) in 2017, Yunio Barrueta (Barry University) in 2016, Davene Carter (Tarleton State) and Antjuan Ball (West Texas A&M) in 2015, Marcus Lewis (Eastern Kentucky) in 2014, Corey Law (High Point) in 2013, James Justice (Martin Methodist College) in 2012, and Jacob Tucker (Illinois College) in 2011. Lewis, Justice and Tucker all went on to win the College Slam Dunk Championship.
