Elite college basketball players dive into an unforgettable dolphin experience at SeaWorld San Antonio before the slam dunk and 3-point championships.
SAN ANTONIO — Ahead of the highly anticipated State Farm College Slam Dunk and 3-Point Championships, a group of elite college basketball players swapped basketballs for bottlenose dolphins during a special visit to SeaWorld San Antonio on Wednesday.
As part of the pre-event festivities, the athletes took a break from the hardwood to dive into Discovery Point, suiting up in wetsuits for a once-in-a-lifetime aquatic experience.
“It’s great to see the dolphins,” said Sarah Andrews, a point guard at Baylor University. “Always watched this as a kid, like, on social media and stuff. So just to be here and to see everything in real life is amazing.”
The players got to feed, train and even swim with the dolphins, guided by SeaWorld staff. From hand signals to tail splashes, the athletes interacted with the animals like seasoned marine trainers.
“What could you not love about swimming with dolphins?” one athlete said. “We got to play with toys… got to do a couple hand signals… got to do a little jump.”
While some were a little nervous at first, Norfolk State’s Christen Ings said the experience quickly became unforgettable.
“I mean they’re great people. Good fun. You know they scare me. They said swim and they say swim—I was hesitant. They said to stay in there, you know, interact with—that was cool.”
For players used to flying high at the rim, the dolphins’ agility left a strong impression.
“We got a little, maybe like 10, 20 feet of flowing with the dolphin,” Ings said. “And that was pretty fun.”
Even the splash factor didn’t stop the good vibes.
“As much as it was bad for my hair… I gotta be cute for that… but that was cool, just having the dolphin lead me in the water.”
The State Farm College Slam Dunk and 3-Point Championships tip off April 3. But for these athletes, the trip to SeaWorld was already a highlight of their San Antonio stay.