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Meleek Thomas

He's going to be 18 next year and isn't going to make his millions or whatever dollar figure you want to associate with him playing for Lincoln.

I think he is also in danger of falling out of the top 10 nationally if he stays in the 2025 class. The 2025 class even without Flagg is just too stacked and he is ranked 9th on 247. He just lost a matchup against another elite fringe top 10 nationally ranked 5 star not even a week ago in Oregon. He's an Elite prospect. He isn't the 2nd coming of Jordan. He will be a great college player. Although Im not going beyond the word great yet in college and calling him an elite caliber college player. There is a lot of reasons for him to reclass as did Flagg.
He’s not going to reclass. He’s not going to Lincoln. That clear it up for you?
 
He’s not going to reclass. He’s not going to Lincoln. That clear it up for you?

He isn't getting paid some huge amount of money staying in high school. I don't care what high school he goes to, Montverde or whoever. For the record, you said he wasn't coming back to Lincoln earlier this year. And he did.
 
He isn't getting paid some huge amount of money staying in high school. I don't care what high school he goes to, Montverde or whoever. For the record, you said he wasn't coming back to Lincoln earlier this year. And he did.
No, I said he wasn’t for his senior year. Because I know he isn’t. Thanks for your “record” though.
 
From what I am hearing, it will be more than a mill if it’s a traditional school, IE Duke, Kentucky and include a Nike deal.

BUT there is significant, one might even call it PALPABLE, movement towards him staying home and signing for less. The early word was he was taking biggest NIL deal regardless. Now that he’s a 1 and done, barring injury, the money is almost negligible.

Would be the biggest commit of my lifetime regardless of sport.
No need to worry about it when we finish 16-16.
 
Following up on this, this is the top 10 biggest NIL deals in all of college in any sport men or women. Take note of the lack of men's college basketball players on this list.



NCAA athletes with the biggest endorsement deals​

NameUniversitySportAmount
Bronny JamesUSC TrojansBasketball$6.1 million
Shedeur SandersColorado BuffaloesFootball$4.5 million
Livvy DunneLSU TigersGymnastics$3.3 million
Arch ManningTexas LonghornsFootball$2.8 million
Caleb WilliamsUSC TrojansFootball$2.8 million
Travis HunterColorado BuffaloesFootball$2.2 million
Angel ReeseLSU TigersBasketball$1.7 million
Spencer RattlerSouth Carolina GamecocksFootball$1.5 million
Bo NixOregon DucksFootball$1.5 million
Jayden DanielsLSU TigersFootball$1.5 million





I don't believe anyone is going to pay Meleek Thomas over $1 million in college basketball and if by small chance they do, its barely going to be over $1 million. In fact, after doing some research on this, the 5 biggest NIL deals in all of college basketball right now men or women are

Bronny James
Angel Reese
Hansel Emmanuel 1.2 million - 1 Arm basketball player
Flau-Jae Johnson 1.1 million
Jared Mccain- 1 million

That is ALL of college basketball. So in short, of the top 5 in all of college basketball, 2 are women that won a national title and 1 player has 1 arm.


Cooper Flagg, who is head and shoulders the number 1 recruit in high school basketball regardless of class, has an online NIL evaluation of 950K per on ON3. I would be willing to bet he easily cleared $1 million in NIL, but I am heavily skeptical he got up to $1.5 million.

Bballinsider is overrating his forecasts on NIL deals.
 
Following up on this, this is the top 10 biggest NIL deals in all of college in any sport men or women. Take note of the lack of men's college basketball players on this list.



NCAA athletes with the biggest endorsement deals​

NameUniversitySportAmount
Bronny JamesUSC TrojansBasketball$6.1 million
Shedeur SandersColorado BuffaloesFootball$4.5 million
Livvy DunneLSU TigersGymnastics$3.3 million
Arch ManningTexas LonghornsFootball$2.8 million
Caleb WilliamsUSC TrojansFootball$2.8 million
Travis HunterColorado BuffaloesFootball$2.2 million
Angel ReeseLSU TigersBasketball$1.7 million
Spencer RattlerSouth Carolina GamecocksFootball$1.5 million
Bo NixOregon DucksFootball$1.5 million
Jayden DanielsLSU TigersFootball$1.5 million





I don't believe anyone is going to pay Meleek Thomas over $1 million in college basketball and if by small chance they do, its barely going to be over $1 million. In fact, after doing some research on this, the 5 biggest NIL deals in all of college basketball right now men or women are

Bronny James
Angel Reese
Hansel Emmanuel 1.2 million - 1 Arm basketball player
Flau-Jae Johnson 1.1 million
Jared Mccain- 1 million

That is ALL of college basketball. So in short, of the top 5 in all of college basketball, 2 are women that won a national title and 1 player has 1 arm.


Cooper Flagg, who is head and shoulders the number 1 recruit in high school basketball regardless of class, has an online NIL evaluation of 950K per on ON3. I would be willing to bet he easily cleared $1 million in NIL, but I am heavily skeptical he got up to $1.5 million.

Bballinsider is overrating his forecasts on NIL deals.
I think u might be focusing on actual nil more than the pay for play aspect. That list looks like it focuses more on real endorsements and marketability Than just the pay to play that is happening at schools. Unfortunately i dont think there is a reliable source for most “nil” deals and the on3 evaluation is kinda pointless. It is just coming up with a number based of social media followers and interactions
 
I think u might be focusing on actual nil more than the pay for play aspect. That list looks like it focuses more on real endorsements and marketability Than just the pay to play that is happening at schools. Unfortunately i dont think there is a reliable source for most “nil” deals and the on3 evaluation is kinda pointless. It is just coming up with a number based of social media followers and interactions

That list is the actual NIL amount they earned.

There are varying ways in which athletes earn NIL, but the most common are below
  • Accepting direct payments for promotional activities
  • Receiving free or sponsored products in exchange for promotion
  • Receiving free or sponsored services in exchange for promotion
  • Earning affiliate money from social media promotion
  • Becoming an ambassador for a brand or business
  • Appearing in commercials, ads, and digital content


So the dollar figure I reported above includes what the actual player received.
 
That list is the actual NIL amount they earned.

There are varying ways in which athletes earn NIL, but the most common are below
  • Accepting direct payments for promotional activities
  • Receiving free or sponsored products in exchange for promotion
  • Receiving free or sponsored services in exchange for promotion
  • Earning affiliate money from social media promotion
  • Becoming an ambassador for a brand or business
  • Appearing in commercials, ads, and digital content


So the dollar figure I reported above includes what the actual player received.
Unless you’ve seen their tax returns, those numbers aren’t accurate. I know what Tre Mitchell got for his one year at Kentucky, just as I know what WVU is handing out. That is strictly the pay for play @pschaum98 is speaking of and not the little side deals they make for themselves. The On3 NIL evaluation is way off to what the market currently is. Top WR’s in the portal are going for 500k. A top 5 basketball player 1 and done is gonna easily command double that and possibly more if it’s the right situation.
 
I think u might be focusing on actual nil more than the pay for play aspect. That list looks like it focuses more on real endorsements and marketability Than just the pay to play that is happening at schools. Unfortunately i dont think there is a reliable source for most “nil” deals and the on3 evaluation is kinda pointless. It is just coming up with a number based of social media followers and interactions
Yeah, Vader is way off. The on3 evaluations is calculated exactly as you said. There may be some deals that were reported to help their evals, but they’re not accurate all the time either. Unless you see those players’ tax returns, there’s no way to verify what they made. For instance, UK players can command up to 50k in a single hour autograph session at a business. Do you think this is added in their on3 eval? Of course not.
 
Villanova is paying three guys $1M or more this year.
I have been thinking that the schools in the Big East and a Gonzaga, which don't have football, yet especially schools like Nova and GTown, you can devote all your NIL initiatives towards basketball without football grabbing the bulk. That's a heckuva advantage.
 
Yeah, Vader is way off. The on3 evaluations is calculated exactly as you said. There may be some deals that were reported to help their evals, but they’re not accurate all the time either. Unless you see those players’ tax returns, there’s no way to verify what they made. For instance, UK players can command up to 50k in a single hour autograph session at a business. Do you think this is added in their on3 eval? Of course not.

Well I don't believe it.

Because Nijel Pack was one of the biggest NIL deals and highest rated transfer players in all of college basketball where the deal was made public by lifewallet. It was an 800k 2 year deal with a car. Pack was a 1st team All Big 12 transfer. And he got 400k per year.

The average revenue for a top 20 basketball program is around 15 million dollars give or take. Now add up the coaches and everything else and these schools arent shelling out money like this year after year for 5 star players. Like you said, show me a tax return.
 
Yeah, Vader is way off. The on3 evaluations is calculated exactly as you said. There may be some deals that were reported to help their evals, but they’re not accurate all the time either. Unless you see those players’ tax returns, there’s no way to verify what they made. For instance, UK players can command up to 50k in a single hour autograph session at a business. Do you think this is added in their on3 eval? Of course not.

Correct. "Pay for play" NIL deals aren't reported. On3 calculates the "marketability" for REAL NIL ENDORSEMENTS. It has nothing to do with pay for play. Meleek Thomas will certainly get at least $1 million.
 
Unless you’ve seen their tax returns, those numbers aren’t accurate. I know what Tre Mitchell got for his one year at Kentucky, just as I know what WVU is handing out. That is strictly the pay for play @pschaum98 is speaking of and not the little side deals they make for themselves. The On3 NIL evaluation is way off to what the market currently is. Top WR’s in the portal are going for 500k. A top 5 basketball player 1 and done is gonna easily command double that and possibly more if it’s the right situation.
How much did Tre get and what is WVU handing out?
 
WVU is 200k apartment and car pay for play and whatever you can make in actual in NIL.

Tre doubled that at UK

Well, they get a housing stipend anyway so not sure the apartment matters. But 200K sounds about right. I would have thought closer to 400 for Edwards though. Terrible waste of money this year though.

This is what I mean though. If WVU can pay Kerr Kriisa 200K, there is no reason we cant pay Thomas $1 million.
 
Morgantown is awesome for a college kid
Vomiting Stick Figure GIF by CowWolf
 
Well I don't believe it.

Because Nijel Pack was one of the biggest NIL deals and highest rated transfer players in all of college basketball where the deal was made public by lifewallet. It was an 800k 2 year deal with a car. Pack was a 1st team All Big 12 transfer. And he got 400k per year.

The average revenue for a top 20 basketball program is around 15 million dollars give or take. Now add up the coaches and everything else and these schools arent shelling out money like this year after year for 5 star players. Like you said, show me a tax return.
Lol. What do the schools $ have to do with the players? Players are paid by boosters?
 
There are a million college towns like Morgantown that dont have 3rd world poverty when you step 1 foot off the campus. Its West Virginia. It sucks.
Why would they step 1 foot off campus? Man you guys never partied at WVU during your college days? That town is a helluva time for a college kid.

Why would a 22 year old care what the atmosphere is like off campus if it’s not at a bar or house party?
That pretty much describes the large majority of colleges.
Correct. So if you’re getting 200k along with a free apartment and car why would you care if the WV is a poor state? You’re 21-23 years old, not 30 and looking for a job. This is all so weird.
 
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Why would they step 1 foot off campus? Man you guys never partied at WVU during your college days? That town is a helluva time for a college kid.

Why would a 22 year old care what the atmosphere is like off campus if it’s not at a bar or house party?

Correct. So if you’re getting 200k along with a free apartment and car why would you care if the WV is a poor state? You’re 21-23 years old, not 30 and looking for a job. This is all so weird.
I’m sure the players don’t care, but the place would get boring after a year or so.
 
There is no way, and I mean literally no way, that that is true.

How on earth would anyone know what someone was being paid for NIL unless they see a tax return or a W2?
I mean it’s not true. Not remotely accurate. The list is what they’re worth based on their social media value. It explains that.
 
Lol. What do the schools $ have to do with the players? Players are paid by boosters?

College basketball is a business. And like any business, all businesses have an ROI, return on investment. Regardless of where the money is coming from, NIL, the school, the boosters, the coach, the backdoor alley, or Santa Clause, its money being spent and burned to "buy" players and put a team together.

What is being said here makes zero sense. I can get an All Big 12 1st team selection for 400K with a car, or I can take the risk and spend well north of a million dollars on a fringe top 10 high school basketball recruit who may not live up to anywhere near the hype. Not only do I have a 1st team All Big 12 selection at a 60% discount price with potentially more, I can go and buy another star to go with him. And like I said, the Nijel Pack deal was made public information.

Take Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky out of the equation, we are talking about everyone else here in college basketball or any top 20 program you want to talk about. And we are talking about spending a pool of money to buy players for a team. These schools, their NIL and whatever else is packaged in, don't have an unlimited piggy bank to buy 5 star players at this rate. And even if they did, its still doesn't make sense to when you can go ahead and get a Nijel Pack for 400k.

At the end of the day, Miami made its business decision with their All Big 12 1st team selection at a 60% discount price in comparison to a fringe 5 star like you are suggesting is worth well north of 1 million dollars, and, they went to the Final 4 while Duke and Kentucky did not.
 
Why would they step 1 foot off campus? Man you guys never partied at WVU during your college days? That town is a helluva time for a college kid.

Why would a 22 year old care what the atmosphere is like off campus if it’s not at a bar or house party?

Correct. So if you’re getting 200k along with a free apartment and car why would you care if the WV is a poor state? You’re 21-23 years old, not 30 and looking for a job. This is all so weird.

The party scene at WVU is the same as any other college. To be fair, the on campus or slightly off campus part of WVU isnt really a detractor as its the same as every college town. I realize not everyone thinks this way but for me, it would be super depressing to have to live in Morgantown or State College because all you have is a campus. There's nothing else. Now do these kids need to go to the theater or nice restaurants? No. And that's why most dont care about living in such a shitty place.
 
College basketball is a business. And like any business, all businesses have an ROI, return on investment. Regardless of where the money is coming from, NIL, the school, the boosters, the coach, the backdoor alley, or Santa Clause, its money being spent and burned to "buy" players and put a team together.

What is being said here makes zero sense. I can get an All Big 12 1st team selection for 400K with a car, or I can take the risk and spend well north of a million dollars on a fringe top 10 high school basketball recruit who may not live up to anywhere near the hype. Not only do I have a 1st team All Big 12 selection at a 60% discount price with potentially more, I can go and buy another star to go with him. And like I said, the Nijel Pack deal was made public information.

Take Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky out of the equation, we are talking about everyone else here in college basketball or any top 20 program you want to talk about. And we are talking about spending a pool of money to buy players for a team. These schools, their NIL and whatever else is packaged in, don't have an unlimited piggy bank to buy 5 star players at this rate. And even if they did, its still doesn't make sense to when you can go ahead and get a Nijel Pack for 400k.

At the end of the day, Miami made its business decision with their All Big 12 1st team selection at a 60% discount price in comparison to a fringe 5 star like you are suggesting is worth well north of 1 million dollars, and, they went to the Final 4 while Duke and Kentucky did not.
Making the pack deal as gospel for all of cbb is weird. Yea he was a 1st team big 12 guy, but he also is a 6ft sg. Their is a reason miami didnt run their team through him this year or last year. Hes a good 2nd/3rd option, but not the #1, and hes a weak defender. He was first team all big 12 b/c for ksst when they went 14-17. Another element is when that deal happened, it was the first nil offseason. Teams were still feeling things out and not going crazy
 
Making the pack deal as gospel for all of cbb is weird. Yea he was a 1st team big 12 guy, but he also is a 6ft sg. Their is a reason miami didnt run their team through him this year or last year. Hes a good 2nd/3rd option, but not the #1, and hes a weak defender. He was first team all big 12 b/c for ksst when they went 14-17. Another element is when that deal happened, it was the first nil offseason. Teams were still feeling things out and not going crazy

And if he can get 400K/year, what do you think other guys are getting?
 
The party scene at WVU is the same as any other college. To be fair, the on campus or slightly off campus part of WVU isnt really a detractor as its the same as every college town. I realize not everyone thinks this way but for me, it would be super depressing to have to live in Morgantown or State College because all you have is a campus. There's nothing else. Now do these kids need to go to the theater or nice restaurants? No. And that's why most dont care about living in such a shitty place.
Lol yeah I’m sure Meleek Thomas will choose Pitt because of the Carnegie museum. Some of you people are so simple. College towns are usually pretty cool. Hence why they have the best football teams.
 
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Making the pack deal as gospel for all of cbb is weird. Yea he was a 1st team big 12 guy, but he also is a 6ft sg. Their is a reason miami didnt run their team through him this year or last year. Hes a good 2nd/3rd option, but not the #1, and hes a weak defender. He was first team all big 12 b/c for ksst when they went 14-17. Another element is when that deal happened, it was the first nil offseason. Teams were still feeling things out and not going crazy


Last year I watched the Uconn Huskies absolutely boat race and steamroll the entire NCAA Tournament in all 6 rounds.

Uconn had a total of ZERO top 50 consensus 4 star recruits on its entire roster. Their best player, Adama Sanogo, was not even a consensus top 100 recruit in high school. If you look up my post history, I pumped that kid hard in high school and I wanted him bad. Their backup center Donovan Clingan who is destroying opponents this year and was Sanogo's backup last year, was a fringe top 75 4 star high school recruit. Their All American SG was 55th Nationally as a consensus recruit. Their starting dominant power forward Alex Karaban was ranked 118th as a consensus recruit. These are players that dominated in the EYBL. And none of them were 5 stars and none of them were top 50 nationally ranked.

The Baylor team that won the national title several years ago is the same story of lower ranked recruits that dominated in college. Purdue basketball is in the same exact camp this year, with a bunch of stud 3 star players. Zach Edey, the best player in college basketball, was ranked 436th in high school.


My point is this and only this. Choose to spend your money wisely and dont fall victim to 5 star hype. Kentucky has 2 five star top 5 nationally rated recruits on their current team and Reed Sheppard who plays on the same team and was ranked 79th in the country in high school in the same recruiting class is better than both of them. And neither of those top 5 Kentucky 5 stars is averaging 10 points per game this year.


Believe me when I say this. There are a lot of Josh Selby and Emoni Bates 5 star recruits that aren't even close to living up to the hype. And these 2 players I named were the #1 high school recruit in the country for their class. Not a fringe top 10 recruit.
 
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College basketball and football are indeed businesses that have boosters footing the cost of player acquisition , pretty good business model if you ask me .

A school like Pitt whose never wanted to invest in sports like the big boys now has a chance if some group of extremely wealthy people have nothing better to do with money than to give it to kids to play ball for their alma maters.
 
I have been thinking that the schools in the Big East and a Gonzaga, which don't have football, yet especially schools like Nova and GTown, you can devote all your NIL initiatives towards basketball without football grabbing the bulk. That's a heckuva advantage.
Football is always going to be the gaping maw that is always sucking up more and more resources. That’s everywhere that has big time football (and Pitt is big time football, as opposed to Villanova or Georgetown).
 
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