Which NC university athletes playing in the ACC Tournament have the biggest NIL deals?
The list can be found below, and you can be assured that during this year’s ACC tourney, which begins March 12, some of the names on this list will have a significant impact on the court.
One day before the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament starts, North Carolina online sports betting will launch following months of planning by state regulators. NC sportsbooks will finally be able to accept wagers on college hoops, as well as other sporting events. The ACC Tournament will be the first major sporting event on which NC bettors can place legal online bets.
Let’s see which college ballers in the ACC Tournament have the most lucrative NIL deals.
First of All … What Is NIL?
NIL stands for name, image, and likeness. Following a landmark lawsuit and judgment in 2019, college athletes earned the right to be compensated for the use of their name, image, and likeness.
Many states have passed laws regulating NIL, and the NCAA has ruled that universities cannot pay the athletes directly. Instead, businesses and advertisers are entering into agreements with the student-athletes. The implications of NIL are controversial, but it’s undeniable that players are in a better position than ever.
Many college athletes are now receiving payments for their NIL, such as from North Carolina NIL collectives. And it’s not just the best players. Big NIL deals go to athletes who are popular for various reasons, including their social media following.
Here’s a list of the top NIL deals among men’s ACC basketball players.
Top Men’s ACC Basketball NIL deals
T-1. Jared McCain, Duke: $1 million
The Duke guard and former McDonald’s All-American has drawn a lot of interest because of his popularity and charisma. According to recruiting and NIL database On3, McCain has tied for the third-highest NIL deal in men’s college basketball.
Social media following:
- TikTok — 2 million
- Instagram — 594K
- X — 11.3K
T-1. Armando Bacot, UNC: $1 million
Bacot’s NIL value isn’t listed on On3, but various other sources list his value at $1 million. He’s expected to lead the Tar Heels deep into the NCAA Tournament (+1800 to win the title, according to DraftKings), and UNC is heavily favored to win the ACC Tournament.
Social media following:
- TikTok — 155K
- Instagram — 39K
- X — 59K
3. R.J. Davis, UNC: $892,000
Yet another senior leader for North Carolina, Davis is becoming a superstar at the right time. In January, he scored a career-high 36 points for the Tar Heels against Wake Forest. He’ll be a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Social media following:
- TikTok — 40K
- Instagram — 130K
- X — 16.1K
4. Kyle Filipowski, Duke: $795,000
Duke will be the biggest challenge to UNC in the ACC Tournament, and Filipowski will be a key factor for the Blue Devils this March. His NIL deals come in at just under $800K, and the 7-footer is likely to enter the NBA Draft this summer.
Social media following:
- TikTok — none
- Instagram — 36K
- X — 12K
5. Elliot Cadeau, UNC: $478,000
Cadeau made NIL news back in high school in 2022, when he became the first high school athlete to sign an international NIL deal. He has carried his NIL momentum into his freshman season at UNC, in which he’s averaging nearly 8 points and better than 4 assists per game.
Social media following:
- TikTok — 14.4K
- Instagram — 218K
- X — 8.8K
6. Caleb Foster, Duke: $238,000
As of last May, when Foster was still a high school senior in California, Foster already had NIL deals worth into six figures. So it’s no surprise to see him on this list. He’s shooting better than 40% from 3-point range this season to fuel his nearly 8 points scored per game.
Social media following:
- TikTok — none
- Instagram — 45K
- X — 2.7K
7. Jeremy Roach, Duke: $163,000
Roach is one of Duke’s most improved players, and he’s shooting a career-best 34.1% from beyond the 3-point line. In a program known for one-and-done players, Roach is a rare senior star leading the Blue Devils to yet another stellar season.
Social media following:
- TikTok — none
- Instagram — 64K
- X — 11.5K
8. Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest: $105,000
A big reason Wake Forest was able to defeat Duke in a thrilling ACC game in February was the play of Sallis, a wiry 6-foot-5 guard who transferred over from Gonzaga this past offseason. Sallis poured in 29 points in the win over Duke and will try to lead the Deacs to an ACC title.
Social media following:
- TikTok — 21K
- Instagram — 32K
- X — 11.2K
Resources
NCSharp used information from On3, a recruiting and NIL database, as well as sports website Sportskeeda, to compile this list.
Photo credit: AP Photo/Ben McKeown