Joseph Kilgore selected for 2018 Slam Dunk Championship Roster

CHICAGO, Illinois – Joseph Kilgore, a member of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s Islanders Men’s Basketball team, was recently added to the Slam Dunk Championship roster for the 30th annual State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships. The Championship will take place on Thursday, March 29, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Bill Greehey Arena located at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. The event that will air live on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. Central Standard Time.

Intersport announced Kilgore as one of eight men’s college basketball players selected to take part in the Slam Dunk Championship after being recognized as one of the nation’s finest slam dunk performers.

“I'm excited [to be apart of the dunk contest] because everyone has been telling me I could win for a few years. Now I have a chance to see if I can,” said Kilgore, who is a senior business major.

Kilgore finished the season as the third leading scorer in the Southland Conference, averaging 18.3 points per game, which earned him Second Team All-South Land Conference Honors. Kilgore, the senior captain of the team, turned heads after recording a monster dunk against New Orleans and taking the number five spot on SportsCenter Top 10 plays. But Kilgore is no stranger to getting his name in the national spotlight and record books. He recorded the Island University’s first ever triple-double, which includes 24 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists against Houston Baptist. He also scored a career-high of 36 points against Houston Baptist in his regular-season finale as an Islander. This season Kilgore also reached the 1,000 point club after scoring more than 1,000 points during his basketball career at the Island University.

“Joe Kilgore is most deserving of being selected to participate in this year’s Slam Dunk Contest at the Final Four,” said Willis Wilson, Islanders Men’s Basketball head coach. “He represents himself, his family, our program and A&M-Corpus Christi with class and honor. I know that he will do extremely well in the competition and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for the national viewing audience on ESPN 2.”

Intersport, who produce the event, invites 24 of the nation’s elite men’s and women’s college basketball players to compete in the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships. The program showcases the dunking and sharp-shooting talents of the nation’s top college basketball players during the Great Clips Men’s 3-Point Shooting Championship, the Marine's Women’s 3-Point Shooting Championship, the Samsung Battle of the Champions, the Dunkin’ Donuts Slam Dunk Championship and the Applebee’s Team Shootout.

Over the last 29 years, several of the top players in college basketball have competed in the College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships including: Gary Payton, Steve Nash, Jason Terry, Kyle Korver, Bobby Hurley, Michael Finley, Damon Stoudamire, Allan Houston, Denzel Valentine, Yogi Ferrell, Wes Matthews, Cappie Pondexter, Katie Gearlds, and Kristi Toliver. Kilgore will now add his name to this impressive line-up.

Tickets for the 2018 State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships are on sale now and can be purchased at CollegeSlam.com. General admission tickets are $15 but participants who wish to cheer Kilgore on can enter the discount code “ISLANDERS” to receive $10 tickets. Islanders can follow Joseph’s career and show their support by using #JoeForTheDunkShow.