Dayton Basketball Fan Fest draws thousands to UD Arena

Approximately, 3,500 fans attended the event. From all appearances, the players on both sides had a grand time showing off their shooting touch, throwing T-shirts into the stands and laughing with teammates.

Dayton freshman Lynn Greer III addressed the crowd midway through the Fan Fest.

“What’s going on, Flyer Nation,” Greer said. “We just wanted to thank you guys for coming out here and supporting us today. It means a lot to us. You guys are all family to us. So thank you. We appreciate it.”

Here are a few quick highlights:

• There were two contests featuring fans: a free-throw contest; and a shooting contest involving teams of one women’s player, one men’s player and a fan.

• Koby Brea beat Elijah Weaver in the final of the men’s 3-point shooting contest but then lost to the women’s winner, Makira Cook.

• While coaches did not participate in the event because it was a player-run name, image, likeness opportunity, Dayton men’s coach Anthony Grant and women’s coach Shauna Green did watch from the stands with a number of their assistant coaches.

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• The men’s team showed off its dance moves as each player was introduced at the beginning of the event. However, Colin Connor, one of Dayton’s biggest fans, stole the show by dancing in front of the whole team at center court.

• Another fan, James Moon, stole the show by singing the Finland national anthem in honor of Dayton sophomore Mustapha Amzil, one of five international players on the men’s team.

• There was a dunking exhibition but not a dunk contest. Most of the players took turns showing off their best slams.

• The men’s team held a 10-minute scrimmage at the end. It was an all-star game style exhibition with little defense and many dunks. Malachi Smith and Zimi Nwokeji did not play. Smith said he rolled his ankle in practice and has missed five weeks but expects to return before the season begins. Nwokeji said he has a heel issue.

• The players did not wear UD apparel. They wore red Dayton Basketball Fan Fest T-shirts and black shorts.

• Free chicken from Lee’s Famous Recipe, a sponsor of the event, was a theme throughout the event. Players went into the stands to hand out coupons at one point.