Alabama fan celebrates with 'Crimson Crane' after hitting $19,000 halfcourt shot

For the third straight week State Farm is shelling out a healthy chunk of change after a halfcourt shot contest ended with a winner. ESPN’s College GameDay was in Tuscaloosa ahead of the Alabama–Tennessee game tonight, but one fan scored a big win well ahead of tip-off.

Ayvion Cooley, a freshman at Alabama from Colorado Springs, stepped to the line with 19 seconds to make a halfcourt shot.

His first several attempts didn’t inspire a ton of confidence, but as the buzzer neared Cooley found the zone and hit the shot from halfcourt. He immediately spun out behind him and ran to the crowd, jumping up on a fan barrier and celebrating to the crowd.

And he did it in a way that Alabama fans will all thoroughly appreciate.

He hopped up on one leg and spread both arms out over his head, a move popularized by the movie “Karate Kid” but embraced and rebranded as the “Crimson Crane” by Alabama stars Jameson Williams and John Metchie.

“Yessir, had to,” Cooley said to ESPN’s Rece Davis. “Had to represent.”

Alabama student Ayvion Cooley makes a halfcourt shot for $19,000. pic.twitter.com/rX3LDjCnP0

— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) March 2, 2024

Cooley, by virtue of hitting the halfcourt shot in the 19 seconds allotted, was awarded $19,000 by State Farm. The 19,000 represents the number of State Farm agents available worldwide, according to Davis.

State Farm may soon be rethinking its contest, though. It has paid out multiple winners this season.

In fact, Cooley’s win was the third straight week that a contestant had made the shot. But, hey, if the celebrations continue to be as good as Cooley’s, perhaps State Farm will find it a worthwhile investment anyway.

As for Cooley, he’s got some financial planning to do.

“I have no clue on this one,” he said with a laugh, asked what he would do with the prize winnings.