WINFIELD, Kan. — For Cameron Rodriguez, nothing beats hitting the court.
The Southwestern College student hopes to turn some heads this season, but he stunned many with his moves earlier this month.
“And I just took a step back and just kind of jogged up there a little bit and just let it fly and the rest is written I guess,” he laughed. “Nothing but net. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it went in.”
Cameron is one of the elite few to be able to make a half-court basketball free-throw shot.
He did it at the Oklahoma City Thunder Game against the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 18.
At each game, a person is invited on to the court for a chance to win $20,000. Cameron was selected at random, but little did people know that he had the moves to hit the net.
Of the 231 people who’ve attempted the shot, only 8 have made it — including the red-shirt sophomore.
“It’s big time to be able to hit that kind of shot with that many people and it’s been a good experience for him. We’re excited to see him get the 20k,” said Matt O’Brien, head basketball coach at Southwestern.
Yet, the moment the cheers exploded in the arena, controversy followed.
College basketball rules prevent players from getting paid to play — even in a contest. Now the Thunder is trying to get the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to bend the rules. They would like to donate the money as a scholarship to Cameron’s tuition.
Regardless what the NAIA decides, Cameron said this was his moment to live the dream. Growing up, he wanted to be a pro-basketball player.
“Memory of the lifetime. Probably something like that will never happen again,” he said. “Even if it doesn’t work out, I’m still happy to have the experience. I thank God for the opportunity. I think he has the ultimate plan for everything, whether it works out in my favor or not, I feel like it will work out in his favor, which is ultimate.”
After Cameron’s game, the Thunder has changed its policy on who can compete. Student athletes are ineligible for the half-court prize.