NIL

South Carolina Star Becomes Steph Curry’s First NIL Signing

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South Carolina freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley has become the first collegiate athlete to sign with Steph Curry’s NIL brand. Per the brand, Fulwiley will be an “ambassador” at the NCAA tournament later this month and will sport Curry-branded shoes for the rest of her collegiate career. Fulwiley was recently crowned MVP of the SEC tournament, the first freshman to capture the award.

Fulwiley is averaging 11.8/2.9/2.3 this season amid the Gamecocks’ second consecutive undefeated regular season. However, here solid contributions have been overshadowed by the outstanding seasons of USC’s Juju Watkins and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hildago. South Carolina will enter March Madness as the number one overall seed. However, in a rare move, they will be without star senior Kamilla Cardoso for their opening game. Cardoso is serving a one-game suspension for fighting in South Carolina’s title game against LSU.

Read More: Juwan Howard Fired By Michigan After Historically Bad Season

Selection Sunday Looms

Just one day remains until the brackets for March Madness 2024 are revealed. Saturday and Sunday will see the final 13 conference titles decided, finalizing the 32 teams that receive an automatic berth to the tournament. This group already contains everyone from giants like South Carolina and UConn to first-time dancers such as Presbyterian and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi. The remain conferences to be decided are the MAC, WAC, MAAC, MEAC, SWAC, C-USA, Ivy League, Big West, Atlantic Sun, Patriot, CAA, and MVC. Additionally, nine champions will be decided on Saturday, with the final four decided just hours before the bracket reveal on Sunday.

36 teams will be announced alongside the conference champions tomorrow. This will include the 8 “First Four” teams, who play a preliminary play-in game. The bracket is split into 16 quadrants, with the highest seed in each quadrant hosting the first two rounds. After the first two rounds, the tournament moves to two regional sites – Portland and Albany. The final four and national championship game will take place in Cleveland. Meanwhile, the men’s national championship game takes place in Glendale, Arizona this year.

Read More: NCAA Sued Over Transgender Inclusion Policy

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Nick Saban Says Retirement Had Nothing To Do With NIL

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Nick Saban has denied speculation that his retirement was due to the evolving world of compensation for college athletes. “Don’t make it about that. It’s not about that. To me, if you choose to coach, you don’t need to be complaining about all that stuff. You need to adjust to it and adapt to it and do the best you can under the circumstances and not complain about it,” Saban told ESPN. While Saban had previously expressed doubts about NIL, namely that is could create a “pay to play” system, he also acknowledged that it was the future of college athletes.

However, that didn’t stop people pointing the finger of blame at the system for Saban’s departure. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, a vocal opponent of NIL, openly suggested that Saban had retired due to NIL rules in a tweet reacting to the news. As for Saban’s replacement, frontrunner Dan Lanning also already announced that he intends to stay and see out his contract with Oregon.

Read More: Pete Carroll Out As Seahawks Coach

Nick Saban Retires

First reported by ESPN, Saban announced his retirement on January 10. Saban hung up his headset after 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide. Saban led Alabama to six national titles and finished the 2023 season with a Rose Bowl loss to eventual champions Michigan. Saban’s coaching journey began all the way back in 1973 as a graduate assistant at Kent State. His first head coaching role was at Toledo in 1990. He would hold the same position at Michigan State, LSU, and the Miami Dolphins before coming to Alabama in 2007. He immediately turned around an ailing program, turning them into them into the powerhouse they are today.

Saban, who turned 72 last October, has previously been coy about retirement. I’ve always said that if you’re thinking about retirement, you’re probably already retired, and I’m not there yet,” Saban told ESPN in November. Saban, who is yet to confirm his retirement, ends his career with a record of 292-71-1 in 28 total seasons as a college head coach. He has seven National championships, 12 conference titles, and 19 bowl game victories. Alabama are expected to remain a title contender in 2024.

Read More: Bill Belichick To Leave New England Patriots

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College Coach With $6M Salary Complains About NIL

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NIL has become the bogeyman of the NCAA. The legislation, passed in 2020, finally allowed collegiate athletes to be compensated in terms of brand deals and media appearances. That was a major step away from the era where the authorities that oversaw college sports adamantly defended the free labor of collegiate athletes.

However, not everyone is a fan of the program. Many coaches argue that NIL has forever changed recruiting. According to these detractors, players will go where the money is, putting smaller schools at a recruiting disadvantage. Granted, NIL has made some players at some schools very wealthy. Despite this, it’s a weak argument to try and defend not paying players given how much revenue they generate for the school. Additionally, one college football coach is receiving a lot of mockery for his particularly exaggerated take on NIL.

Eli Drinkwitz Makes Weird NIL Statement

Eli Drinkwitz has been the head coach for the Missouri Tigers since 2020. The Tigers recruited Drinkwitz after his spectacular 12-1 2019 season leading Appalachian State. Since arriving at Missouri, he has gone 17-19, including 0-2 in bowl games. According to a tweet from Sports Illustrated reporter Ross Dellenger, Drinkwitz is not a fan of NIL. Drinkwitz reportedly said that college athletes make more through NIL than his pediatrician brother-in-law does. This is bad, Drinkwitz argued, because “he saves lives.”

It’s a fine if tired sentiment. People have been pointing out how athletes make more than doctors, firefighters, etc. for years. However, there’s just one little detail that undermines Drinkwitz’s position. When Drinkwitz was hired by Missouri in 2020, his salary was $4 million. In 2023, his salary is $6 million. Furthermore, by the end of his contract in 2027, his salary will be $7 million. It’s a little hard to make the argument that NIL is bad when you yourself are making millions of dollars more than a medical professional. For what it’s worth, the median US salary for a pediatrician in the United States is around $218,000. While the NIL debate will surely continue in college sports, it’s safe to say that the millionaire coaches (especially the ones who make millions to produce losing records) should probably sit this one out.

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Angel Reese NIL Evaluation

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Angel Reese is arguably the most popular NCAA Women’s Basketball star of all time. Since helping lead the LSU Tigers to the National Championship, Reese has been a popular topic. Including recently when Shaq stated she is the best athlete in the history of LSU athletics. Now it seems her advertising potential is starting to see movement. NIL has been a huge change in the way college athletics are handled. College athletes getting the chance to make their own income have seen so many positive stories already.

Now it seems that Reese could be ready to cash in on her own NIL opportunities. According to the popular college recruiting site ON3 Sports, Reese could make history. The site has its own NIL valuation system, and it shows that Reese has become a megastar. Reese’s NIL valuation currently sits at $1.3 million. According to the site, “She has gained over 2 million followers across her social media platforms since the beginning of March Madness.” This makes her the highest projected earner in all of Women’s College Basketball.

The Legend Of Angel Reese Continues To Grow

Knowing this information makes a ton of sense as to why Reese decided to stay at LSU. This kind of money is way larger than what is made by players in the WNBA. Sadly women athletes’ financial comparison to the men, has long been an issue in professional sports. However, Reese is one of the many women’s stars that has begun to change the game. The $1.3 million potential earners are larger than many in the men’s NCAA. Reese is just further proof that fans are interested in women’s athletics.

Angel Reese has reached superstar status. Even when the media wanted to discuss things other than her game, Reese stood for what she believed in. A lot was discussed about her on the court celebrations. However, that is seemingly all in the past. Now Reese’s talents are getting noticed by all the right people. What are your thoughts on NIL in college athletics? Do you believe it is fair for NIL to be uncapped? Give us your thoughts on the situation in the comment section. For the latest updates in sports, keep it right here with HNHH.

Master P’s Sons Mercy and Hercy Miller Talk Inking NIL Deals with Leading Sportswear Brands

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Master P's Sons Mercy and Hercy Miller Talk Inking NIL Deals with Leading Sportswear Brands

The NBA just wrapped up All-Star weekend showcasing the brightest talents in the league. While that stage is showcasing the stars of today, stars of the future are rising the ranks of basketball, while cashing in on NIL deals.

Among those are high-school Basketball phenom and rapper Master P’s son, Mercy Miller, who recently aligned with Reebok. The future Houston Cougar will star in announcements for Allen Iverson’s latest sneaker. The deal was executed by the NIL influencer marketing agency Postgame.

Meanwhile, Mercy’s older brother, Hercy is currently putting in work as a member of the Louisville basketball team, taking his talents to Adidas, also executed by Postgame.

NIL is a relatively new program but is currently sweeping the nation across pre-professional ranks. Postgame Director of Athlete Relations, Aaron Hackett, details what makes NIL an essential part of the game.

“We see a lot of misconceptions in the headlines surrounding NIL with collectives, pay for play and the transfer portal,” said Hackett. “Working with both Hercy and Mercy on these two latest campaigns embodies the true intent of why NIL was passed. Allowing athletes to leverage their personal brand and collaborate with businesses to share unique and authentic stories.”

In an exclusive with The Source, Mercy and Hercey Miller discuss their NIL deals and what made their respective brands perfect for them.

The SOURCE: You are involved in some high-profile games these days. Is there pressure for you to perform with cameras – both TV and social media – on you at all times?

Mercy Miller: I have been working hard, and I’m humble and grateful God has allowed me to play on the big stage in high school. I’m creating a name for myself and also protecting my family name.

You just secured a NIL deal with Reebok, promoting Allen Iverson Sneakers. How does it feel to be aligned with an iconic brand and one of the most heralded basketball players of all time?

Allen Iverson is one of the greatest of all time. It’s an honor to be representing his sneakers, and it motivates me to keep working hard to achieve my goal of playing in the NBA.

You Will be playing at the University of Houston. The team is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation. What can you bring to a strong program next year?

Hard work and leadership.

You aligned with Postgame to get this NIL deal done. How did the agency make this easy for you?

Postgame understands me, my goals, and my dreams. I trust them to align me with brands that are meaningful to me.

The SOURCE: You are aligned with Adidas. What let you know that was the sports brand for you?

Adidas equals quality. My school, the University of Louisville, is an Adidas school, and I am proud to wear their brand.

You are currently playing at Louisville – how have you felt about the season so far?

This season is a journey. It’s all about growth and getting better as a team. We have a great coach, and we will make the non-believers believe. I continue to work hard on my game, spending my time in the gym

What does this NIL deal do for you and your future?

NIL deals give me the opportunity to work with high-profile brands that I am honored to work with. These are companies that I want to continue to work with during my basketball career and beyond.

Heading into the final weeks of the college season – what are you hoping to accomplish?

I let God lead me and continue to work hard on and off the court to be the best student-athlete and prepare for the NBA in the future.

The post Master P’s Sons Mercy and Hercy Miller Talk Inking NIL Deals with Leading Sportswear Brands appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: Deion Sanders Wants No Parts Of a “Private” Conversation With Nick Saban

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Deion Sanders Drops Surprise Gems To Keep A Woman Happy

Jackson State University head coach Deion Sanders has no interest in taking a call from Alabama head coach Nick Saban anytime soon. Recently, Saban alleged Wednesday at a conference in Birmingham that Jackson State paid top recruit Travis Hunter $1 million to go to the HBCU and flip his commitment. He also accused Texas A&M of essentially buying players using NIL deals.

After his initial comments, Saban wanted to clear the air with Sanders, but he didn’t want any parts of it privately. Sanders is open to talking about everything public instead.

“I haven’t talked to Coach Saban. I’m sure he’s tried to call. We need to talk publicly — not privately. What you said was public. That doesn’t require a conversation. Let’s talk publicly and let everybody hear the conversation,” Sanders told Andscape on Thursday.

“You can’t do that publicly and call privately. No, no, no. I still love him. I admire him. I respect him. He’s the magna cum laude of college football and that’s what it’s going to be because he’s earned that.”

After Saban’s initial claim, Sanders first responded via Twitter with a clean and professional response.

Sanders said Hunter didn’t come to Jackson State, a Football Championship Subdivision school, to chase a dollar.

“I don’t make a million. Travis ain’t built like that. Travis ain’t chasing a dollar. Travis is chasing greatness. Travis and his family don’t get down like that. They never came to us in search of the bag. They’re not built like that. This kid wants to be great.”

Saban is looking crazy right now with his claims without proof. Alabama has been a dominant program, always attracting top recruits. NILs have leveled the playing field, and Saban has to adjust and not sound so bitter about it.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Deion Sanders Wants No Parts Of a “Private” Conversation With Nick Saban appeared first on The Source.