Fresno State Athletics
Watson to compete in Final Four Slam Dunk Contest
3/17/2017 10:47:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Fresno State senior guard/forward Paul Watson will be one of eight competitors in the 2017 State Farm College Basketball Slam Dunk Championship, which will be held during the 2017 Final Four in Phoenix.
CHICAGO – Fresno State's Paul Watson has been selected to the Slam Dunk Championship roster for the 29th annual State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. on Thursday, March 30, Intersport announced today.
Â
Watson, a native of Phoenix, is one of eight men's college basketball players selected for the event that will air live on ESPN at 7 p.m. PT. He was invited to take part in the Slam Dunk Championship after being recognized as one of the nation's finest slam dunk performers.
Â
Intersport, producers of 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 (eight dunkers, along with eight men's and eight women's shooters). The program showcases the dunking and sharp-shooting talents of the nation's top college basketball players during the Be The Match Team Shootout, the Great Clips Men's 3-Point Shooting Championship, the Marine's Women's 3-Point Shooting Championship, the Shoe Carnival Battle of the Champions, and the Denny's Slam Dunk Championship.
Â
Watson was a four-year starter for Fresno State, who is one of eight teams on the West Coast to make postseason appearances (NCAA or NIT) in each of the last two seasons. He helped lead the Bulldogs to postseason appearances in three of his four seasons. Watson scored 1,361 career points to finish his career 16th in program history in scoring. He played in 135 career games with 128 starts, and earned 2013-14 Mountain West Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American honors.
Â
A complete list of participants will be released at a later date. Over the last 28 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, Denzel Valentine, Damon Stoudamire, Allan Houston, Wes Matthews, Cappie Pondexter, Katie Gearlds, and Kristi Toliver.
Â
Tickets for the 2017 State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships are on sale now and can be purchased at CollegeSlam.com. General admission tickets are $15. For special group rates, please call 312-467-2826. Grand Canyon University Arena is located at 3300 W. Camelback Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85017.
Â
For more information on the 2017 State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships, visit CollegeSlam.com, follow us on Twitter (@CollegeSLAM) and like us on Facebook.
Â
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Â
Â
Watson, a native of Phoenix, is one of eight men's college basketball players selected for the event that will air live on ESPN at 7 p.m. PT. He was invited to take part in the Slam Dunk Championship after being recognized as one of the nation's finest slam dunk performers.
Â
Intersport, producers of 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 (eight dunkers, along with eight men's and eight women's shooters). The program showcases the dunking and sharp-shooting talents of the nation's top college basketball players during the Be The Match Team Shootout, the Great Clips Men's 3-Point Shooting Championship, the Marine's Women's 3-Point Shooting Championship, the Shoe Carnival Battle of the Champions, and the Denny's Slam Dunk Championship.
Â
Watson was a four-year starter for Fresno State, who is one of eight teams on the West Coast to make postseason appearances (NCAA or NIT) in each of the last two seasons. He helped lead the Bulldogs to postseason appearances in three of his four seasons. Watson scored 1,361 career points to finish his career 16th in program history in scoring. He played in 135 career games with 128 starts, and earned 2013-14 Mountain West Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American honors.
Â
A complete list of participants will be released at a later date. Over the last 28 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, Denzel Valentine, Damon Stoudamire, Allan Houston, Wes Matthews, Cappie Pondexter, Katie Gearlds, and Kristi Toliver.
Â
Tickets for the 2017 State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships are on sale now and can be purchased at CollegeSlam.com. General admission tickets are $15. For special group rates, please call 312-467-2826. Grand Canyon University Arena is located at 3300 W. Camelback Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85017.
Â
For more information on the 2017 State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships, visit CollegeSlam.com, follow us on Twitter (@CollegeSLAM) and like us on Facebook.
Â
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Â
Players Mentioned
2025-26 MBB Season Recap
Wednesday, March 18
MBB Pregame Interview: 2026 Mountain West Tournament
Wednesday, March 11
Return to Selland: Press Conference
Friday, October 17
MBB: Highlight vs. San Diego [12/14/24]
Tuesday, December 17



