Start the celebrations folks, Oregon made it to the Final Four.
Well, actually, just one Duck made it.
But senior Alex Scales’ presence in Indianapolis this weekend is still worthy of applause.
Scales, who recently capped a memorable two-year Oregon career, took part in the 12th annual College Basketball 3-Point and Slam Dunk Competition on Thursday and was selected to play in Saturday’s NABC Ocean Spray Roundball Challenge.
In the event televised by ESPN, Scales was one of eight dunkers who showcased their high-wire acts for the nation to see.
With Dick Vitale’s one-of-a-kind voice setting the mood, the competitors were given two opening-round dunks, with the four highest scores advancing.
Scales’ first dunk attempt was a decent display of his potential. He bounced the ball high in the air, then extended his arms high to retrieve it in mid-air and threw it down with two hands.
With the highest score being a perfect 40, Scales was given a 31.8. The dunks were judged by Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Indiana Pacers forwards Austin Croshere and Derrick McKey and injured Cincinnati Bearcat hoop star Kenyon Martin.
Scales’ jam didn’t attract much attention from Vitale, and his face gave the impression that he had something much better in store for his next one.
When the second-round began Scales was in seventh place. His first two attempts in the round went awry because a false start and a bad bounce off the floor. With time running out, he showed the nation why he is deservedly referred to as “The Skywalker.”
Looking calm, Scales charged toward the hoop. He glided up, performed a 360-degree spin in mid-air and thunderously slammed it home with his right hand.
The rim-shaker was greeted with a surprising uproar from the crowd at the Conseco Field House and, of course, an exuberant array of Vitale excitement.
“That’s gotta be a 10!,” Vitale screamed.
Sure enough, the judges agreed. Scales was awarded with a perfect score of 40. But because of his low-scoring first round, his combined score of 35.9 gave him a fifth-place finish — and an early exit in the competition.
Steve Smith from St. Francis won the event, which will be rebroadcast on ESPN at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. Also competing were Craig “Speedy” Claxton of Hofstra, St. John’s Lavor Postell and University of Portland’s Troy Collins.
Scales’ weekend is not over. On Saturday, he will play on a team featuring 12 of the nation’s top seniors that will take on the legendary jokesters, the Harlem Globetrotters. He will be coached by Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun, and his teammates will include Brian Cardinal from Purdue, Bootsy Thornton of St. John’s and Atlantic-10 Player of the Year Pepé Sanchez of Temple.
According to Oregon media services, the event will take place at 10 a.m. at Conseco Field House and will be rebroadcast Monday at 8 p.m. on Fox Sports Net.
Scales’ month of basketball continues on April 11-15 when he joins teammate and fellow senior A.D. Smith in the Nike Desert Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
The two are among 40 seniors invited to the event which will be closely evaluated by professional basketball scouts and executives. It is set up primarily to attract attention to these selected participants for this season’s NBA Draft.