The Sprite Jam Fest is the premier high school basketball event that catapults promising players to national recognition, serving as an exciting prelude to the McDonald`s All American Games.
Basketball legends like LeBron James, Vince Carter, and Candace Parker have graced this stage, delivering unforgettable aerial performances that foreshadowed their future dominance in the NBA and WNBA.
This year, a new generation of stars is set to electrify the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, showcasing their talent.
In anticipation of these breathtaking displays of athleticism, we`re revisiting some of the most spectacular and defining moments from this prestigious competition throughout the years.
1995, St. Louis
Vince Carter announced his arrival to the world with a series of innovative and high-flying dunks, narrowly defeating future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce. Carter`s performance at Jam Fest was a glimpse of what was to come, as he later conquered the NBA dunk contest in 2000 and cemented his legacy as one of basketball`s greatest dunkers.
2002, New York
Carmelo Anthony emerged victorious in a thrilling contest against Amar`e Stoudemire. Anthony impressed the crowd by launching from just inside the free-throw line for a powerful one-handed dunk. Stoudemire attempted to counter by dunking from the actual free-throw line but missed, handing the victory to Anthony, who would go on to become a 10-time NBA All-Star.
2003, Cleveland
LeBron James`s dominant performance in his sole dunk contest appearance in Cleveland fueled the ongoing debate about his absence from NBA dunk contests. The 18-year-old prodigy captivated his hometown crowd with thunderous cock-back slams and windmills, defeating J.R. Giddens and Shannon Brown.
2004, Oklahoma City
Candace Parker made history by becoming the first woman to win the dunk contest, surpassing formidable competitors like Josh Smith, Rudy Gay, and J.R. Smith, all of whom later participated in the NBA dunk contest, with Smith winning the following year. Parker`s most memorable dunk involved covering her eyes with her left arm while executing a powerful right-handed slam.
Following Parker`s groundbreaking win, Ashlyn Watkins and Fran Belibi have also claimed the title, continuing the legacy of women`s dominance in the event.
2007, Louisville
Even as a high school senior, Blake Griffin was already known for his rim-shaking dunks. He wowed the audience with an off-the-backboard windmill and a 360 dunk off the bounce in the final round, defeating future NBA players Patrick Patterson and Michael Beasley.
2008, Milwaukee
DeMar DeRozan stole the show with his incredible 38.5-inch vertical leap, performing a series of acrobatic dunks, including a reverse Eastbay, a hanging windmill, and a backboard tap ricochet dunk off the bounce. These mesmerizing dunks secured his victory and foreshadowed his future performances at the NBA All-Star weekend.
2018, Atlanta
The anticipation for the dunk contest in 2018 was immense, largely due to Zion Williamson`s participation. Williamson had become a viral sensation throughout his high school career, renowned for his powerful and spectacular dunks. He lived up to the hype, executing dunks like a 360-windmill, cock-backs, and an Eastbay off the glass, ultimately winning the competition.