Samford Student Sinks Half-Court Hoops Shot to Win $1,000 Tuition

Samford University student Hogan Whitmore has been to a great deal of NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway with his Sigma Nu fraternity brothers. As part of a partnership with Samford, NASCAR’s biggest track awarded the senior for making a “mammoth” shot during the men’s basketball game against Chattanooga.

Last Thursday (Jan. 15) from 47 feet away, Whitmore, one of two students to make an attempt, sank a half-court shot during halftime, and as a result, won $1,000 tuition on behalf of Talladega Superspeedway.
“It was an unbelievable feeling,” said Whitmore, a sports medicine major who says he never really practiced half-court attempts. “I always take crazy shots when I am in the gym and probably shoot better around that range than from the 3-point line, but I never actually tried those shots. I am really thankful to the speedway for offering this promotion. Who knows, maybe (Samford Head) Coach (Scott) Padgett may offer me a scholarship,” he joked.

It wasn’t Whitmore’s first time on the court in Pete Hanna Center, where he is on the practice squad that works with the Lady Bulldog hoops team. “We work mostly on defense with the lady’s team, so that probably didn’t help with the shot, but I will take it,” added Whitmire, who ironically played high school ball in the home city of Thursday night’s opponent – Chattanooga (TN). While he plans to put the $1,000 tuition to good use to go to dental school later this year, one place he and his Sigma Nu fraternity brothers will be on May 3 will be the Talladega 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

“We always go to the Talladega races, and will definitely be back in May,” said Whitmire, a Jeff Gordon fan who served as president of his fraternity last year. “We will have 50 or more guys come out each race and make it a big social event. We have done it for years and can’t wait to go back.”

Thursday night’s partnership with Samford continues Talladega Superspeedway’s commitment to universities across the southeast.

Below, check out out the amazing half-court shot that went in for the thousand bucks!!

Racing returns to Talladega Superspeedway in 2015:

• Winn-Dixie 300 (Saturday, May 2) NASCAR XFINITY Series event
• Talladega 500 (Sunday, May 3) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

For ticket information -click here-