Abilene Christian University junior Cam Hazzard is a triple major, an honors student, a trumpeter in ACU’s Big Purple Band, and on Tuesday could add “world champion dunker” to his already impressive resume.
After winning a preliminary round of the competition in July, Hazzard is one of eight dunkers who will vie for the title in a bracket-style competition in the Dunkman World Championship Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m. ET in Atlanta, Georgia. The event, backed by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, will be streamed on TNT, HBO Max and TruTV.
Originally a high school basketball player in his hometown of Little Elm, Hazzard’s path shifted in his sophomore year after he tore both hamstrings. During his recovery and a subsequent growth spurt, he discovered the niche world of professional dunking. He is largely self-taught, having spent years recording his progress solo, often in a gym at the ACU Money Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
His breakthrough came in May 2025 when a viral video led to an invitation to a Jumpman 23 showcase in London hosted by Jordan Brand, which was convenient, as he was already in Oxford, England, as part of ACU’s Study Abroad program. He now competes in O’Neal’s Dunkman league.
Hazzard describes his surreal entry into that organization: “I received a call from this guy named Chuck, and he was like, ‘Hey, Shaq saw one of your videos and said, ‘Get this man on Dunkman.’”
Despite being a lesser-known name in the field, Hazzard is a second-seed favorite among the world’s elite dunkers, including notable names like Mac McClung. Hazzard remains unphased by the pressure of live, televised competition.
“I just enjoy the moment, because it’s not like I’m doing something that I don’t love,” he said. “I’m doing the thing I find the most joy in, and I get to do it in front of everyone else. So, I actually feel really relaxed in situations like that. My mental mindset is that I’m just excited to get back out there and compete.”
Meanwhile, the ACU community is rallying to support a fellow Wildcat with an on-campus watch party in Moody Coliseum Tuesday. The Dunkman competition will be streaming live on the big screen, with games, contests, and opportunities to win cash prizes throughout the night. Doors open to the public at 6:45 p.m., and concessions will be available for purchase throughout the evening.
“It’s a great feeling to know that I have a lot of supporters on campus,” Hazzard said “People are willing to take time out of their night to watch me. I’m super lucky to have that.”
– Wendy Kilmer
Aug. 24, 2026