INDIANAPOLIS – Senior Sam Phipps has been selected as one of 16 players nationwide to compete in the 2026 State Farm Dark Horse Dunker competition, a fan-voted social media contest that gives under-the-radar college standouts a shot at the national spotlight.

Phipps, a senior from Wellsville, Utah, will represent UT Tyler in the bracket-style competition, produced by Intersport. He becomes the first player in UT Tyler men's basketball history to participate in the Dark Horse Dunker competition, marking a historic moment for the program. The winner earns a spot in the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships on April 3 in Indianapolis.

Fans can vote on X (@CollegeSLAM) and Instagram (@College_Slam) in a bracket-style format that runs through four rounds, beginning with Round One on March 2 at Noon CT and concluding with the Finals on March 27. Each round lasts four days, and fans can vote once per account per matchup on each platform. The final winner will advance to compete live at the College Slam Dunk Championship, which will air on ESPN on April 5 at 1:30 p.m. ET.