Prospect's Nsenzi Salasini finishes 3rd in slam dunk contest

There was no stage fright for Prospect junior Nsenzi Salasini in the Country Financial Class 4A slam dunk contest finals Friday night.

Salasini was part of the final four who were performing between 4A boys basketball semifinals before thousands of fans in Peoria's Carver Arena and thousands more watching across the state on television.

The 6-foot-2 Salasini made all 5 of his dunks to finish third with 38 points. D.J. Bennett of Sandburg won the contest with 47 points to advance to today's King of the Hill competition between the winners of all four classes.

"I should have gotten second but I'll take third," Salasini said of finishing a point behind Kameron Norton of Downers Grove North. "I'm happy with what I did. I'm proud."

Salasini started with an alley-oop to himself which he caught and dunked with one hand. He said he executed his reverse dunk better than in Thursday's preliminaries and then hit windmill, tomahawk and two-hand dunks.

Making the finals also gave him the opportunity to sign autographs at the March Madness Experience on Friday morning.

"I didn't even know what to expect - but for my first time down here it was a good first impression," Salasini said. "As much as we did this year with winning a regional and conference (Mid-Suburban League) and going to sectionals, this was one more step to put Prospect on the map. I'm happy I got to represent Prospect well."