College freshman hits buzzer-beater with $100k prize on the line, NBA star left stunned

People often underestimate their own potential—until the right moment forces them to rise to the occasion. That’s exactly what happened to a college freshman who found himself in a high-stakes showdown against NBA superstar Damian Lillard. Jaren Barajas, a student at Los Medanos College, stunned everyone when he sank a deep logo shot, securing a victory in MrBeast’s three-point shooting competition. His clutch performance not only bested the Milwaukee Bucks point guard but also earned him a life-changing $100,000 prize.

A clip from the contest, featured on the NBA’s YouTube channel, captured the thrilling moment when Barajas turned the game around. After struggling with a few missed shots, he received some timely advice that helped him refocus—and when the pressure was at its peak, he delivered. His story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, all it takes is the right push to unlock greatness.

Unlike a standard three-point contest, this competition had a unique twist—Jaren Barajas had to make one deep logo shot before Damian Lillard could attempt three. The pressure was on from the start. Lillard missed his first attempt but sank his second with ease, putting Barajas in a tough spot. After missing his first shot, the college freshman found himself struggling to stay in the game.

Sensing the tension, MrBeast asked Barajas what he would do with the $100,000 prize. Barajas shared that he planned to use part of the money to fund his education and support his family. With his opponent already scoring twice, he needed to step up fast. That’s when basketball legends Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Stephen Curry stepped in with some critical advice. Their encouragement proved to be the turning point, helping Barajas refocus and ultimately pull off the shot that changed everything.

The college freshman’s game significantly improved in the wake of much-needed motivation. The contest held at San Francisco's Chase Center took an exciting turn when Lillard came so close to victory, yet somehow couldn’t hit the final logo shot. Meanwhile, Barajas took notes from the experts as well as from his failures to finally hit the jackpot. The student made the basket as the buzzer went off, leading to loud cheers from the crowd. The entire arena erupted in celebration as Barajas hugged Smith and O'Neal.

With the win secured, Barajas leaped into a life-size cube brimming with cash. After the event, he told Fox affiliate KTVU, “Kenny tried to give me advice. He said, 'Hold your follow-through.' Shaq told me to shoot a bit higher. The last shot came down right before the buzzer. I threw it up there, and it went in.” Notably, Barajas was randomly selected for the contest among a huge crowd of basketball lovers. According to the outlet, the college freshman had no plans to attend the highly anticipated game and even felt short on money to buy tickets, prompting his dad’s intervention. Barajas’ father surprised him with the tickets a day before the event during his grandfather’s 80th birthday.

“I didn’t even know I was coming to the game, so to have this experience, it’s so surreal. I’m so thankful,” he said, according to PEOPLE. Meanwhile, the video showing the young basketball fan beating the all-time favorite shooter managed to draw widespread attention on social media, garnering 131k views.

Among the countless reactions it received, @217ShowOffBoii jokingly remarked, “That's dope. I would've thanked Dame for going easy on me, lol.” @mitchellmccroskey4568 chimed in, “I don’t think he truly understands how much money that is. I’d be crying like a baby if I won $100k. That’s life-changing."