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Jordan Southerland didn’t win the Dunkman World Championship on Tuesday in Atlanta; that title and the $500,000 prize went to 21-year-old Cam Hazzard. But Southerland did set the bar when it came to the Dunk of the Night — literally.
The former all-state high-jumper from Marietta High School dazzled the hometown crowd at Overtime Elite Arena at Atlantic Station by clearing a six-foot track-and-field high jump bar while throwing one down — his body practically horizontal — and landing on the crash mat with bragging rights and $50,000.
“That was a dunk I always wanted to put on the main stage,” says Southerland. “It’s an ode to my late (MHS) track coach, James ‘Friday’ Richards.”
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Southerland credits Coach Richards with giving his young athleticism direction in track and field after Southerland was cut from the basketball team. The professional dunker says Richards’ training led directly to Southerland’s distinctive one-foot launch technique, which has brought him much success in the fledgling Dunkman league. Once Southerland saw another dunker, Jonathan Clark, do the high-jump dunk, Southerland knew he wanted to add it to his slam arsenal.
In the eight-man, single-elimination competition, Southerland made it to the semifinals before losing to China’s Dengxing Chen. But many who watched event, either in person or on TNT, will remember Southerland’s made-for-TikTok highlight long after they forget that result. That includes Southerland’s sizeable family cheering section in attendance that night — his fiancée, daughter, brothers, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and most importantly, his dad and the mother who inspired him.
“I will cherish the memories made forever,” he says. “It was an amazing night and an amazing experience.”
