College basketball's transfer portal opens with prices rising again. Which schools will keep up?
On April 7, the eyes of the college basketball world should be on San Antonio, the site of this season’s men’s national championship game.0 million 0 million 0 million 0 million 0 million 0 million Once the settlement goes into effect, a school can directly pay a player whatever it wants without justifying that it’s […]
On April 7, the eyes of the college basketball world should be on San Antonio, the site of this season’s men’s national championship game.0 million
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Once the settlement goes into effect, a school can directly pay a player whatever it wants without justifying that it’s a fair-market deal, but any payments beyond what’s budgeted through revenue sharing will need to be funneled to players through a collective.
Roster retention is also a priority, and at the high-major level, typically every player a team wants to keep is getting a pay bump. While it’s possible to get in a bidding war for your own player, those situations are more avoidable than they are for talent in the portal.
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Per-year average (’25-26)
“It’s hard to build any real infrastructure because our poles are built in sand right now,” the Big 12 assistant said. “The hardest part of NIL is that there are unbelievably smart, brilliant minds and litigators on both sides of the coin. … And the rest of us are just trying to figure out the rules to the game, and the game is in complete judicial warfare all the time. And none of us truly know what each day is going to bring in NIL. You’re asking all of the right questions, and anything I say could literally be different tomorrow.”
SEC
The coaching carousel’s upheaval also spurs inflation.
“We’re seeing some outrageous numbers on some kids that are marginal at best,” a second SEC assistant said. “Like, unproven.”
“Some of these guys have the same agent, so the agents ask for more for the players who’ve already done it, which I get,” the GM said. “It makes sense. If a high school All-American is worth -5 million, what’s a collegiate All-American worth?”
While it is not a given that Wilken will approve the settlement on April 7 — administrators expect approval will come in the weeks that follow, and the direct revenue sharing model would take effect in July — just to be safe, coaches are using that date as a deadline to get deals signed to retain current players and, if possible, sign new ones because they know the terms. NIL deals (for both high school prospects and transfers) signed before the House settlement is finalized and paid before June 30 do not have to go through the clearinghouse.
That date is doubling as a deadline for college basketball coaches to sign deals with players under the “old rules” of the past few years, in which name, image and likeness collectives associated with but not run by the schools could essentially craft pay-for-play agreements under the guise of NIL deals. In the rev-share era, those pay-for-play deals will be signed with the schools themselves, and any deals that come from collectives will need to go through a NCAA clearinghouse charged with assessing their legitimacy and “fair-market value.”
“This is a line item we’ve never had,” an A-10 coach said. “It becomes an institutional choice: What do you want to put towards your men’s basketball program?”
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And then there’s “the illusion of revenue sharing,” as the same assistant describes it: “Agents have been sitting back waiting on this for a long time, just the idea that programs are going to be sitting here flush with cash.”
Big TenAdvertisement“And the number goes up every week whoever you’re talking to,” said an administrator who helps negotiate NIL deals for his school.Even several Atlantic 10 programs are expected to set aside -4 million in revenue sharing for their men’s basketball programs.“Right now we’re trying to get as much done before revenue sharing kicks in on April 7 as we can,” an SEC assistant said. “Because obviously what we have to operate with is going to be drastically reduced through the rev share — partially because we are in the SEC and football is king in this conference. For this year’s team specifically, we’re trying to get as much done before April 7. And then whatever we are allotted through the revenue share we will then use for the rest of the transfer portal class we have to bring in.”“You need million to be in the mix, when last year million could get you a really good team,” a general manager of a high-major program said. “Everybody’s coming up with all this money to front-load in addition to the back end of rev share. So if your rev share is .7 million from the school, people are trying to raise million in addition to that, where you can pay to retain guys, plus go out and spend a whole bunch of money for transfers.”
College Football Playoff Prediction: A fresh projection of the straight-seeded, 12-team bracket in 2025
In mid-May, I did the insane thing of trying to not only project who will make the College Football Playoff, but also trying to guess which teams would win in the postseason. A few weeks later, the CFP opted to move to the straight-seeding model. As we learned last year, seeding can have a profound […]
In mid-May, I did the insane thing of trying to not only project who will make the College Football Playoff, but also trying to guess which teams would win in the postseason.
A few weeks later, the CFP opted to move to the straight-seeding model. As we learned last year, seeding can have a profound impact on how the entire tournament shakes out, so we took the same rankings, updated the seeding and tried to project again how it would play out.
It changed. Let’s get into it.
First Round
No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 5 LSU Boise State makes its second consecutive trip to the College Football Playoff. And because of the new seeding rules, the Broncos have a more manageable test in the first round instead of playing Ohio State, who would have been the No. 5 seed behind the Big 12 Champion enjoying a bye. Boise State had a first-round bye a year ago and didn’t measure up with Penn State, so it’s hard to imagine a Group of 5 team playing their way into a top-four seed this year, regardless of record. Boise loses to LSU in the first round.
No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 9 Illinois Oregon got screwed with last year’s seeding rules. Had the rules not changed, Oregon would have had to face Texas in the first round, so the Ducks actually get a break. And because the Big Ten is too big and everyone can’t play everyone, this would be an in-conference matchup happening for the first time. Though Illinois had a great run of a season, it faces a better Big Ten team it was fortunate to avoid on its regular-season schedule and comes up short.
No. 11 BYU vs. 6 Notre Dame Go try to pick the Big 12 champion in June. It’s impossible. I went with BYU because I like the pieces the Cougars bring back. The Big 12 champion gets an automatic spot in the CFP, but the new rules don’t guarantee a bye, so the Cougars will likely find themsleves in the back half of the final top 12. It faces a Notre Dame team that has one of the best offensive lines in the country, and though BYU plays a hard-fought game, the Irish advances to the next round.
No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 7 Georgia The thing about the 12-team CFP era that people didn’t really acknowledge when we expanded was how many rematches we would get. Here’s another example of two SEC superpowers who met in the regular season once and have to play again. Though it’s really hard to tell right now which of these two will be better this year, I find it hard to believe either of these teams would go 2-0 against each other. I have Georgia winning the regular-season matchup and Alabama advancing under second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Quarterfinals
No. 5 LSU vs. No. 4 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl Ohio State didn’t win the Big Ten but it was one of two teams from that conference to enjoy a first-round bye. It doesn’t have an easy road though, having to play a top-tier SEC team in LSU its first time out. Though there is some question about whether the bye can kill momentum, Ohio State captures some of that magic from last year and gets hot in the CFP, ending Brian Kelly’s first postseason run with the Tigers in the quarterfinals.
No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 1 Texas Oregon had the benefit of not playing Texas in the first round, but the Ducks’ reward for winning their first-round-game was a date with the Longhorns. Texas is the deepest, most talented team in college football in 2025. That team is led by Arch Manning, who will be fresh off a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. It’s not that Oregon hasn’t gotten better year over year, but the Ducks continue to have an unfortunate path to the College Football Playoff semifinal. Texas wins.
No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 3 Clemson Though there is some doubt lingering about just how good Clemson will be this year, it’s hard to picture a world in which the Cade Klubnik-led Tigers don’t won the ACC. The Tigers, backed by head coach Dabo Swinney, fall back on some of the postseason experience and handle Notre Dame in the second round. Notre Dame’s program is building in the right direction and the Irish, especiall after a hot month on the recruiting trail, know they’ll be back in this position for many years to come.
No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 2 Penn State Alabama didn’t win the SEC or win its first matchup with Georgia, but the Crimson Tide get hot at the right time. Penn State is still trying to prove it can win against top-tier competition in the postseason and it has the unfortunate reality of facing an ultra-talented Alabama team that’s feeling good about itself right out of the gate. Alabama advances.
Semifinals
No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Texas in the Fiesta Bowl There have been a lot of familiar matchups in this CFP projection, both in terms of 2025 rematches and games from last year’s Playoff popping back up again. But even though the CFP has expanded, there are still going to be usual suspects in the semifinals. So we get another Ohio State-Texas game, which is expected given the talent both teams possess. This year, though, Texas finally gets over the hump and knocks off the Buckeyes to advance to the title game.
No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 3 Clemson We get a classic CFP matchup in the semifinals between two teams who are very familiar with seeing each other in the postseason. After people spent the entire year doubting Swinney, he proves he’s a made scientist with a well-rounded roster. The Tigers return to the national championship game by beating Alabama, proving everything is well and good with the Clemson football program.
National Championship Game
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Clemson in the national title game It has been 20 years since Texas won the national championship and it has been a rough two decades for Longhorns fans. But Steve Sarkisian has built a program that was good enough to consistently knock on the door before finally kicking it down. Manning becomes the next star of the sport and Texas asserts itself as one of the premier programs in college football, conquering the SEC and the the nation. Clemson, though disappointed, has a regained confidence in Swinney and his plan.
Fewer early entrants, more college stars staying put
FILE – Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams (5) celebrates during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Florida, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in San Francisco. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP FILE – McNeese State head coach Will Wade calls to his players during the first half in the first round […]
FILE – Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams (5) celebrates during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Florida, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in San Francisco.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
FILE – McNeese State head coach Will Wade calls to his players during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Providence, R.I.
Charles Krupa/AP
FILE – Duke head coach Jon Scheyer answers a question during media day at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in San Antonio.
Eric Gay/AP
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, center, drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant (3) during the first half in Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP)
Kyle Terada/AP
FILE – Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon addresses the media before introducing J.B. Bickerstaff as the new head coach of the NBA basketball team, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Detroit.
Carlos Osorio/AP
Will Wade’s work building N.C. State into an immediate winner included the pursuit of an entrant in the NBA draft, just in case he returned to college.
It wasn’t a huge risk: With all the cash flowing in college, the number of early entrants to the NBA draft has continued to shrink. This year’s draft starts Wednesday night with its lowest total of those prospects in at least 10 years.
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“Now you can play the long game a little bit more,” Wade told The Associated Press, referring to how college players can look at their futures. “Look, I can get paid the same I would get paid in the G League, the same I would get paid on a two-way (contract), some guys are getting first-round money.”
And more money is on the way.
It’s been four years since college athletes were permitted to profit off the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL), opening the door for athlete compensation that was once forbidden by NCAA rules. Next week, on July 1, marks the official start of revenue sharing where schools can begin directly paying athletes following the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement.
For Wade, that led to signing Texas Tech’s Darrion Williams after 247sports’ fifth-ranked transfer withdrew from the draft.
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“Basically now if you’re an early entry and you’re not a top-20, top-22 pick — where the money slots — you can pretty much make that in college,” the new Wolfpack coach said.
It’s all part of a seismic change that has rippled through college athletics since the pandemic, its impact touching the NBA. Players willing to “test the waters” in the draft before returning to school now have a lucrative option to consider against uncertain pro prospects.
And it shows in the numbers.
“With all the money that’s being thrown around in NIL, you’re having a lot less players put their names in,” Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon said. “You’re having pretty good players pulling their names out.”
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Declining number of early entrants
This year’s drop is significant when compared to the years before anyone had heard of COVID-19. There was a spike of college players jumping into the draft in the pandemic’s aftermath, when they were granted a free eligibility year to temporarily make even a fourth-year senior an “early” entrant.
But those numbers had fallen as those five-year players cycled out of college basketball, and they’re now below pre-pandemic levels. That decline coincides with NIL’s July 2021 arrival, from athletes doing paid appearances or social-media endorsements to boosters forming collectives offering NIL packages amounting to de facto salaries.
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— Eighty-two players appeared on the NBA’s list of early entrants primarily from American colleges with a smattering of other teams, down 49% from 2024 (162) and nearly 47% compared to the four-year average from 2016-19 (153.5);
— Thirty-two remained after withdrawal deadlines, down from 62 last year and 72.0 from 2016-19;
— Adding international prospects, 109 players declared for the draft, down from 201 last year and 205.0 from 2016-19;
— And only 46 remained, down from 77 in 2024 and 83.8 from 2016-19.
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More college players weighing options
Duke coach Jon Scheyer understands draft dynamics, both for no-doubt headliners and prospects facing less clarity. He sees college athlete compensation as a “legitimate gamechanger.”
“Hopefully it allows players to decide what’s truly best for their game,” Scheyer told the AP. “It allows them to analyze: ‘Am I actually ready for this or not?’ Where money doesn’t have to be the deciding factor. Because if money’s the deciding factor, that’s why you see kids not stick. The NBA’s cutthroat. It just is.”
The Blue Devils are expected to have three players selected in the first-round Wednesday, including presumptive No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg alongside top-10 prospects Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach. They also had players sorting through draft decisions.
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Freshman Isaiah Evans — a slender wing with explosive scoring potential — withdrew instead of chasing first-round status through the draft process. Incoming transfer Cedric Coward from Washington State rapidly rose draft boards after the combine and remained in the draft.
“There’s no substituting the money you’re going to make if you’re a top-15, top-20 pick,” said Scheyer, entering Year 4 as successor to retired Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski. “But if you’re not solidified as a first-round pick, why risk it when you can have a solid year and a chance to go up or be in the same position the following season?”
College compensation is re-shaping the draft pool
Langdon, himself a former Duke first-rounder, sees that evolution, too.
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His Pistons had their first playoff appearance since 2019, but lack a first-round selection and own a single pick in Thursday’s second round. Fewer candidates could make the already imperfect science of drafting even trickier in this new reality.
According to the NBA’s 2024-25 rookie scale, a player going midway through the first round would make roughly $3.5 million in first-year salary. That figure would drop to about $2.8 million at pick No. 20, $2.3 million at No. 25 and $2.1 million with the 30th and final first-round draftee.
A minimum first-year NBA salary? Roughly $1.2 million.
“These NIL packages are starting to get up to $3 to $4 to $5 to $6 million dollars,” Langdon said. “These guys are not going to put their name in to be the 25th pick, or even the 18th pick. They are going to go back to school in hopes of being a lottery pick next year. With that pool of players decreasing, it kind of decreases the odds of the level of player we get at No. 37, just the pure mathematics.”
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Current NBA players offer insight
Indiana Pacers big man Thomas Bryant and Oklahoma City Thunder counterpart Isaiah Hartenstein, who both played in the seven-game NBA Finals that ended Sunday, illustrate Langdon’s point.
They were back-to-back second-rounders in 2017 (Bryant at 42, Hartenstein at 43), pushed down a draft board featuring early-entry college players in 33 of the 41 picks before them.
Bryant played two college seasons at Indiana before stints with five NBA teams, including Denver’s 2023 championship squad. Would the ability to make college money have changed his journey?
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“To be honest, I see it from both sides,” Bryant said. “If you’re not going to get drafted, you understand that a kid needs money to live in college and everything. So, I understand where they’re coming from on that end.
“But for me, I took the chance. I bet on myself, and I believed in myself, and I worked to the very end. And the thing about me is that if I went down, I was going down swinging. I hang my hat on that. For some, it might not be the same case.”
The American-born Hartenstein moved to Germany at 11 and played in Lithuania before being drafted. As he put it: “I think everyone’s journey is different.”
“I think you should have the right people around you to kind of guide you,” said Hartenstein, a newly minted NBA champion. “I mean, I was lucky that my dad, who was a professional before, kind of guided me. Depending on your circumstances, it’s hard to turn down guaranteed money. If there’s an opportunity to get in a good situation in the NBA, you do that. But it’s a hard decision.”
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College now can be more of an allure
At N.C. State, Wade’s pitch to Williams included a leading role and a shot at boosting his draft stock.
The 6-foot-6 junior averaged 15.1 points with multiple big NCAA Tournament performances as the Red Raiders reached the Elite Eight, nearly beating eventual champion Florida.
“He was most likely going to be a second-round draft pick, and his package here is better than probably he would’ve gotten as a second-round pick,” Wade said, adding: “We certainly talked about that. We went over that. We went over the math of everything. We went over the plan on how to accomplish that.”
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That’s not to say it’s easy at the college level in this new landscape. Roster management is tricky, including a balancing act of maintaining financial resources to potentially land one player while risking missing out on others.
“It’s the way life works, it’s the way it should work,” Wade said. “If there’s no risk, there’s no reward. The riskiest players, in terms of waiting on the money and waiting them out, are the best players. That’s why they’re in the draft process. We’re not going to be scared of that.”
Nor should he, not with the allure of campus life these days.
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AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds and AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report.
Following the death of Greg Sharpe, the longtime voice of Nebraska football, the Cornhuskers have selected a replacement. Kyle Crooks will fill the role. Crooks comes by way of Florida, where he spent the last eight years as broadcast coordinator and play-by-play broadcaster. He has worked on the radio network’s football, men’s basketball, baseball, softball […]
Following the death of Greg Sharpe, the longtime voice of Nebraska football, the Cornhuskers have selected a replacement. Kyle Crooks will fill the role.
Crooks comes by way of Florida, where he spent the last eight years as broadcast coordinator and play-by-play broadcaster. He has worked on the radio network’s football, men’s basketball, baseball, softball and soccer broadcasts.
Now he’ll transition to calling games for one of the Big Ten’s premier programs. Nebraska announced his hire with a press release on Monday.
“I am incredibly excited for this opportunity! It’s a dream come true to broadcast the great moments ahead for the Cornhuskers,” Crooks said. “I can’t wait to get to Lincoln and meet Husker Nation. It will be an honor to work alongside a talented team in the Greg Sharpe Radio Booth. Greg is a legend in the broadcast industry and beyond, and I will work passionately to continue his elite standard of excellence both in the booth and in the community.”
Greg Sharpe died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 61.
The veteran broadcaster arrived at Nebraska in 2008, serving as a senior announcer, host and producer. He became the “Voice of the Huskers,” calling football and basketball games on the radio and running point on the Sports Nightly show. He announced his cancer diagnosis in April 2024.
Amid his battle, Nebraska honored Sharpe, who kept working as much as he could. The Cornhuskers also honored him by renaming the radio booth the Greg Sharpe Radio Booth in December.
Suffice it to say, Crooks will have big shoes to fill. But Nebraska is confident in his abilities.
“Kyle Crooks is a rising star in the broadcast world, and we are thrilled to have him join the Huskers Radio Network and our Nebraska family,” Director of Athletics Troy Dannen said. “Kyle’s play-by-play abilities and voice speak for themselves, and I was equally impressed with his dedication to his craft and his energy.
“I would like to credit Playfly Sports for leading a successful search with many excellent candidates. Kyle will be a great lead voice on one of the nation’s best football broadcasts, and we are so fortunate to have him join our impressive group of play-by-play voices across all sports.”
Justin Thomas’ hot hitting earns him final baseball Razorbacker of the Week
The Arkansas Razorbacks 2025 baseball season didn’t quite deliver the happy ending most fans wanted but one player who saved his best for last was junior centerfielder Justin Thomas Jr. The Savannah, Ga., native finished the season by going eight for 10 at the plate last week over three games in the College World Series […]
The Arkansas Razorbacks 2025 baseball season didn’t quite deliver the happy ending most fans wanted but one player who saved his best for last was junior centerfielder Justin Thomas Jr. The Savannah, Ga., native finished the season by going eight for 10 at the plate last week over three games in the College World Series against Murray State, UCLA and LSU to earn the final Razorbacker of the Week Award for the Diamond Hogs.
Justin Thomas CWS performance earns him final baseball ROW
Hear from @CBCJakeMck and Justin Thomas Jr. after his 4-4 day in Arkansas historic 3-0 win over Murray State in which his teammate Gage Wood threw a 19 K no hitter. pic.twitter.com/o13Tlxw0Xj
— College Baseball Central (@CollegeBaseCNT) June 16, 2025
“After (the Murray State) game I just wanted to come in with that same approach,” Thomas said last week. “I feel like I did that. Batting practice was really good for me. It gave me a little bit more confidence going into (Tuesday). Hopefully I can just keep it going.”
That he did.
Thomas, who was eight for 14 overall at the CWS played at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, also joined junior pitcher Gage Wood — who pitched a complete game shutout against Murray State June 16 — as Arkansas’ two representatives named to the CWS’ All-Tournament team.
While Wood was capturing national headlines by throwing a near perfect game against the Racers, Thomas was a perfect 4-for-4 in Arkansas’ 3-0 win last Monday. Thomas followed that up by going 2-for-3 with an RBI in each of Arkansas’ next two games — a 7-3 victory on June 17 against UCLA and Thursday’s heartbreaking 6-5 loss to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers.
— Benedictine Military School (@TheBC400) June 23, 2025
Thomas said he was inspired by Wood’s historic performance on the mound and that energy carried through the rest of the week.
“I feed off of it like really good because I like when I see a pitcher getting energized like that, ” Thomas said. “I feel like the rest of our hitters feed off of it too.”
I said JT would be the guy tonight.
You didn’t let me down #WPS https://t.co/pg6jBScToB
Thomas had an RBI double against the Bruins and delivered a clutch two-RBI single in the top of the ninth inning to give Arkansas a two-run lead going into the final stanza against LSU. On the season Thomas finished with a .303 batting average with nine home runs, 38 RBIs and six doubles.
We have to give a shout out to Arkansas baseball’s Justin Thomas Jr.
Although the Razorbacks lost a heartbreaking elimination game to LSU in the College World Series last night, the junior OF led the 2025 CWS in hits (8) and went 2-4 with 2 RBIs last night.
Thomas added that his team embraced the challenge of playing on college baseball’s biggest stage.
“It’s a bit challenge to get into with a bigger outfield and a bigger gap, but it’s nothing our outfielders can’t handle,” Thomas said of playing at Charles Schwab Field.
Justin Thomas Jr. wrote in the dirt after Arkansas’ season ended. @Thomasjustin04 played some of his best baseball all season while in Omaha, including a 4-4 performance. pic.twitter.com/ncStx6yzG5
The Basketball Tournament Releases 2025 Bracket Ahead of $1M, Winner-Take-All Event
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is returning to FOX Sports this summer. The $1 million, winner-take-all tournament is set to get underway on July 18 and will feature 26 games broadcast live on FOX, FS1 and FS2. The single-elimination tournament will be split into eight separate regions, with each hosted by alumni teams representing locally renowned […]
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is returning to FOX Sports this summer.
The $1 million, winner-take-all tournament is set to get underway on July 18 and will feature 26 games broadcast live on FOX, FS1 and FS2. The single-elimination tournament will be split into eight separate regions, with each hosted by alumni teams representing locally renowned college basketball programs.
The field includes the alumni teams representing Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Ohio State, Syracuse, UConn and more. Many of the top participants in the 2024 event are set to return this year, including the likes of Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky), Montrezl Harrell (Louisville), Russ Smith (Louisville) and Yogi Ferrell (Indiana).
There will also be several big-name newcomers in the 2025 version of TBT, including former first-round NBA Draft pick Archie Goodwin, who will play for La Familia (Kentucky alumni) and former Syracuse superstar Buddy Boeheim, who will play for Boeheim’s Army (Syracuse alumni).
For the eighth consecutive year, TBT will feature the Elam Ending, a format where the game clock is turned off at a predetermined time in the fourth quarter, and a “target score” is set. The first team to reach that target score wins the game.
This year’s event will also feature TBT’s “Home Court Advantage”, which will allow host teams to play games in their home arena all the way through the championship game. “Home Court Advantage” was determined by a race to 4,000 tickets sold. Louisville fans won the race, and will now have the right to host the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the championship game as long as the Louisville alumni team continues to win.
Here is a look at the complete 2025 TBT schedule:
Regional Host Locations – July 18-23
Memorial Coliseum – Lexington, Ky. – headlined by La Familia (Kentucky alumni)
Freedom Hall – Louisville, Ky. – headlined by The Ville (Louisville alumni)
Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, Ind. – headlined by All Good Dawgs (Butler alumni) and Assembly Ball (Indiana alumni)
SRC Arena – Syracuse, NY – headlined by Boeheim’s Army (Syracuse alumni)
Charles Koch Arena – Wichita, Kan. – headlined by AfterShocks (Wichita State alumni)
Municipal Arena – Kansas City, Mo. – headlined by JHX Hoops (Kansas alumni) and Purple Reign (Kansas State alumni)
Atlantic Union Bank Center – Harrisonburg, Va. – headlined by Founding Fathers (James Madison alumni)
Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center – Charleston, W.Va. – headlined by Best Virginia (West Virginia alumni)
Quarterfinals
July 27 and 28 (home court advantage awarded to host teams that advance)
Championship Weekend Schedule
Semifinals -Thursday, July 31
$1 Million Championship – Sunday Aug. 3
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George Mason Names Janard Estell Inaugural Director of Player Management & NIL
FAIRFAX — George Mason University Athletics is proud to announce the appointment of Janard Estell as the department’s inaugural Director of Player Management and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Estell will report directly to Ashton Henderson, Senior Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer. Estell will transition from his current position as Associate Director of Development, Major Gifts for […]
FAIRFAX — George Mason University Athletics is proud to announce the appointment of Janard Estell as the department’s inaugural Director of Player Management and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Estell will report directly to Ashton Henderson, Senior Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer.
Estell will transition from his current position as Associate Director of Development, Major Gifts for the Patriot Club, where he has worked closely with ICA senior leadership, advisory board members, and coaches to elevate philanthropic support for Mason Athletics.
In this new role, Estell will lead a comprehensive NIL and entrepreneurship strategy, focused primarily on supporting men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes, while also enhancing education, group licensing, and NIL strategy for all Mason student-athletes.
Estell will also collaborate with Malcolm Grace, Deputy AD for Compliance & NCAA Governance, to ensure all third-party NIL deals are properly reported and tracked within NIL GO, powered by Deloitte—a system recently adopted by the department to enhance transparency and compliance.
Estell brings extensive experience in player management, athletics administration, and corporate engagement.
Prior to joining George Mason, he served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Chipola College, where he played a key role in program development. His efforts included securing financial sponsorships, organizing fundraising events, and fostering community partnerships to support the team’s operational needs. He played a pivotal role in enhancing athlete development programs, improving training facilities, and increasing team visibility through targeted public relations and marketing efforts—ultimately helping to elevate the program’s competitive standing.
As Director of Player Management and NIL, Estell will oversee NIL contract execution, donor and sponsor engagement, student-athlete benefit distribution, and educational programming designed to empower student-athletes to thrive both on and off the court.
“We are thrilled to have Janard Estell transition from his impactful role within the Patriot Club to help shape and lead our growing NIL ecosystem,” said Henderson. “His passion for student-athlete development, business acumen, and deep understanding of the evolving NIL landscape makes him an ideal leader for this role. Janard’s leadership will be instrumental as we continue to develop champions and transform lives through the power of sports.”
Aligned with George Mason’s mission to unite communities and inspire transformation through athletics, Estell’s appointment reinforces the department’s commitment to delivering innovative, ethical, and student-first NIL solutions. He will work closely with internal and external partners to create new revenue streams, enhance visibility for Mason student-athletes, and support their long-term success through entrepreneurship and brand-building education.
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