Sam Phipps wants to get to the Final Four.
The Cache Valley resident played high school basketball at Sky View and then two years at the College of Southern Idaho.
Currently finishing his senior year at the University of Texas-Tyler, a Division II team, Phipps has advanced to the round of 16 in the State Farm Dark Horse Dunker tournament.
The annual contest, voted on by fans, draws the best collegiate dunkers and 3-point shooters to compete at the Final Four.
Reached by telephone on Thursday evening, Phipps told St. George News that if fans vote for him to win this current round, he’ll earn a spot in the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-point Championships at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 3.
“I’ve competed in dunk contests before, but never on a stage this big,” said Phipps, adding that he is 6-foot-6 and was first able to dunk a basketball the summer before his freshman year at Sky View.
“I feel like I have a pretty decent shot at the thing,” Phipps said. “I can’t wait to give it my best shot.”
Attached to this story is a video compilation of Phipps’ 2025-26 dunks – the same video on which fans on Instagram (@College_Slam) and the X platform (@CollegeSlam) will base their votes.
So far, Phipps has advanced in bracket competition against Shad Thomas from Azusa Pacific University, Alvin Tumblin Jr. from Palm Beach Atlantic University and Jair Knight from Emory University.
Phipps is up against Gavin Sarvis (Loras College in Iowa) for the Final Four berth in Indianapolis.
According to the website for that event, the 37th edition of the slam dunk and 3-point championships is “the table setter for the final weekend of the college basketball season.”
A collection of the country’s elite men’s and women’s 3-point shooters and dynamic dunkers puts their talents on display in a family-friendly experience that allows everyone to be a part of the biggest weekend in college basketball, according to the website.
Time is of the essence, however, as voting closes Friday, March 27, at noon central time.
EDITOR’S NOTE: At the close of voting Phipps received 54.1% of votes, advancing him as the Dark Horse Dunker:
INTRODUCING YOUR 2026 @StateFarm DARK HORSE DUNKER‼️@_samphipps_ from @uttylermbb will be joining us in Indy 😤🏆#DarkHorseDunker x #CollegeSlam pic.twitter.com/EcKUHiLwPm
— College Slam (@CollegeSLAM) March 27, 2026