Dr. Gregory J. VincentHoward University’s alumni-led Mecca Society has formed a strategic partnership with the 360 NIL Group to enhance name, image and likeness opportunities for the historically Black university’s student-athletes, the organizations announced this week.

The collaboration aims to strengthen Howard’s ability to recruit and retain top athletic talent amid intensifying competition from other universities offering lucrative NIL deals to prospective student-athletes.

The partnership will begin with a short-term fundraising campaign, including a Day of Giving and targeted donor outreach, before expanding into a longer-term NIL strategy. The effort comes as Howard and other HBCUs face mounting pressure to compete with larger, better-funded athletic programs.

“At a time when HBCUs and other mission-driven institutions face fierce competition for top talent, it is imperative that we invest in scholar-athletes at institutions that value their futures,” said Ludwig P. Gaines, president and co-founder of the 360 NIL Group.

The 360 NIL Group, a national consulting firm specializing in NIL strategies and fundraising, will work with the Mecca Society to develop sustainable funding mechanisms for Howard’s approximately 400 student-athletes across 19 sports programs.

Dr. Gregory J. Vincent, CEO and co-founder of the 360 NIL Group, said the partnership reflects Howard’s historic mission of developing leaders. The university, founded in 1867, has produced notable alumni including Vice President Kamala Harris, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and numerous Olympic athletes.

“This partnership with the Mecca Society is about investing in our scholar-athletes so they can remain at the forefront—academically, athletically, and civically,” said Vincent, a prominent higher education leader who has held a variety of leadership posts at the University of Texas at Austin, Hobart and William Smith College, University of Kentucky and Talladega College.

The initiative addresses a critical challenge facing HBCUs since the NCAA began allowing student-athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness in 2021. Many historically Black institutions have struggled to match the NIL resources available at predominantly white institutions with larger alumni donor bases and corporate partnerships.

Eric Grant, a Mecca Society board member, said the partnership will help Howard “move swiftly and strategically” in the competitive NIL landscape.

Howard’s athletic programs have achieved recent success, with the men’s basketball team making the NCAA tournament in 2022 and the track and field program producing multiple Olympic athletes. Former Olympian David Oliver, who directs Howard’s track and field program, said the university offers student-athletes “something meaningful” beyond athletics.

The Mecca Society, established as a nonprofit alumni collective, focuses on advancing academic, athletic and professional opportunities for Howard student-athletes through NIL deals, leadership development and community engagement.

Former Duke Blue Devils standout Cooper Flagg took the college basketball world by storm during his lone season in 2024-25. As the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation, Flagg lived up to the hype, leading Duke to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance while earning accolades like the ACC Player of the Year and the Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year.

However, we all know that in today’s world, his impact extended far beyond the court. His Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings reportedly reached staggering heights, surpassing even his projected NBA rookie salary.

Unprecedented NIL earnings at Duke

During an interview with Bob Costas, sports journalist Howard Bryant revealed that Flagg’s NIL earnings at Duke amounted to an astonishing $28 million. This figure, which includes a massive $13 million deal with New Balance and another whopping $15 million deal with Fanatics, dwarfed earlier estimates of $4.8 million by On3. These contracts represent multi-year totals, but even so, they highlight Flagg’s unparalleled marketability as a college athlete. He also signed additional deals with brands like Gatorade, Cort Furniture, and The NIL Store which further boosted his earnings, and made him one of the highest-paid college athletes ever.

How Flagg’s NIL deals were structured

Flagg’s partnership with New Balance, which he signed in August of 2024, was a landmark deal that reflected his Maine roots with the brand’s nearby manufacturing presence. The Fanatics deal further cemented his status as a marketable star, which included exclusive merchandise like Topps Bowman basketball cards. Combined with his endoresments from Gatorade and others, these deals capitalized on Flagg’s on-court dominance, where he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. His off-court charisma also lended a hand in landing these contracts, as he is well-known as a humble guy who works hard.

Comparing NIL earnings to NBA rookie salary

Flagg is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which the Dallas Mavericks miracuously landed, with a four-year rookie contract estimated at $62.7 million, including $13.8 million in the first year. Remarkably, his $28 million in NIL earnings at Duke is more than double this first-year NBA salary. The transformative power of NIL in college sports has been felt heavily in the past few seasons, where elite athletes like Flagg can out earn their early professional contracts while still in school.

Why NIL earnings are changing college sports

The NIL era has seemingly redefined college athletics, enabling athletes to monetize their personal brands. Flagg’s case is a prime example of this, as his earnings rival those of top NBA rookies. As Costas noted, this finacial dynamic is even more impactful for athletes who can earn more in college than in professional leagues like the WNBA, where top salaries are significantly lower. Flagg’s success is just one highlight of how NIL deals can incentivize athletes to stay in college longer, even though he opted for the NBA after one season.

As Flagg prepares for the NBA, his NIL deals are going to follow him, which allows him to supplement his rookie contract with continued endoresments. When you combine his ongoing brand partnerships with his projected $62.7 million NBA deal, he is positioned very well for a lucrative professional career. Flagg’s ability to dominate not only on the court, but also in the business world, signals a new era for athletes who can leverage their college fame into gigantic financial opportunities.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — NiJaree Canady has achieved almost everything since transferring to Texas Tech from Stanford and signing an NIL deal worth just over $1 million.

She led the Red Raiders to three firsts — the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles and a berth in the Women’s College World Series. She was the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Pitcher of the Year for the second straight year and leads the nation in wins (33) and ERA (0.94).

The only thing missing is a national championship and that goal will be the toughest to reach after she gave up a late lead in Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series to Texas on Wednesday. After the 2-1 loss, the Red Raiders must beat the Longhorns in two straight to win the national title.

Canady, who threw 88 pitches in Game 1, is battling a soft tissue injury on her left leg suffered in the preseason that has severely limited her practice time. She still expects to be ready for Game 2 on Thursday.

“I’m fine,” a dejected Canady said. “I have all summer to rest. I’m ready to play softball.”

Canady lost the lead when she threw what was supposed be ball four and an intentional walk close enough for Texas’ Reese Atwood to make contact. Atwood knocked in what turned out to be the game winning runs in the sixth inning, putting the Longhorns one win from their first national title.

Atwood knew she was fortunate to get that pitch from Canady.

“Props to NiJa, because she definitely kept us real tight throughout that game,” she said. “She’s a great pitcher. I saw my opportunity and I took it.”

Canady has thrown every pitch for the Red Raiders during the World Series, but Tech coach Gerry Glasco did not guarantee his ace would start on Thursday, saying he needs to watch out for her long-term health. Glasco said Canady is such a competitor that she might not be fully honest about her condition.

“If you know NiJa, she’s not going to complain, she’s not going to tell you,” he said. “We’ll have to really dig, and hopefully the trainer can get her to communicate enough that he’ll get a good assessment. I want to win, but also I want to be sure we leave this season healthy for the future.”

That being said, Glasco expects Canady to be ready. Her competitive drive is one of the reasons recruiting her was a priority when he became Tech’s coach before this season.

Canady has been on the hot seat before. She led Stanford to the national semifinals the previous two seasons and was the winning pitcher on Monday when Tech knocked out four-time defending national champion Oklahoma.

“As far as NiJa tomorrow, if you’ve got to pick a pitcher in America to come back and win two games in a row with — I’ll take NiJa,” he said. “If anybody can do what we need to do to come back, I’m thrilled to have NiJa do it.”

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