This Man Has Locked Himself in a Gym for 60 Hours to Make Free Throw History—And He's Still Going

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Written by Damien Souness
This Man Has Locked Himself in a Gym for 60 Hours to Make Free Throw History—And He's Still Going

March Madness? More like March Mantis. While the nation dives into college basketball, Indiana's own Austin Taylor, better known as "Young Mantis," has embarked on an ambitious challenge that has lasted 60 hours and counting.

The Man, The Myth, The Mantis

Content creator Young Mantis, who boasts over 150,000 subscribers on YouTube, has been in a gym since Saturday in a bid to achieve a basketball feat as remarkable as it is wild.

Young Mantis, is currently undertaking the Herculean task of making 100 consecutive free throws, with a twist for the final shot: he will attempt it blindfolded.

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Impressive Stats That Rival the Pros

At the time of writing, Mantis has attempted an astonishing 6,888 shots. Out of these, he successfully made 6,261 shots. The tally of shots missed stands at 627.

Despite these misses, his success rate of 90.9% is impressive, with only Steph Curry, at 91.0%, having a better record in NBA history for comparison.

Betting on the Underdog: Fantasy Meets Reality

Underdog Fantasy even allowed players to get in on the action before the challenge started, with the line for total shots set at 4000.5, shots made at 3850.5, and shots missed at 150.5, all of which have already gone higher.


The Final Hurdle

However, the most gripping part of Mantis' journey is his repeated face-offs with the final hurdle—the 100th shot, taken blindfolded. He has reached this milestone four times, only to falter at the last moment, and he won't leave the gym until it's done.

Tune In for History in the Making

Tune into Mantis' YouTube channel to catch the drama, the laughs, and maybe, just maybe, the moment when history is made. Will he make the 100th shot? Strap in, folks—this is the real March Madness.

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Written by
Damien Souness
Chief Innovation Officer

With over 15 years of experience, Damien Souness, Chief Innovation Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, enhances Dimers with his expertise in soccer and NBA betting. His prior roles working with organizations such as Formula 1 and MotoGP highlight his dedication to delivering accurate, timely content, making him a trusted authority in sports and betting.

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