New College Basketball Tournament to Allow Player NIL Deals in Las Vegas: A Shift from NCAA Amateurism?

In Las Vegas, a new college basketball tournament will reportedly allow players to cash in on their name, image and likeness. The tournament will feature eight teams from the NCAA’s top conferences, each receiving $1 million to distribute among players. Participating programs include Alabama, Houston, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State and Texas A&M.

The shift in the NCAA’s stance on amateurism has led many players to prioritize monetization when deciding where to play. This is evident by the increase in NIL deals for basketball and football players that have reached millions following the NCAA’s decision to allow sponsorship deals in 2021. However, participating schools cannot directly pay players for their name, image and likeness. Instead, many players have formed collectives to fundraise on their behalf.

The NCAA now allows players to transfer once without sitting out a season which has resulted in an increased number of player transfers. This change represents a significant departure from the NCAA’s previous stance on amateurism which strictly prohibited players from signing sponsorship deals. The organization favored a “collegiate model” of amateurism but recent developments have shifted towards allowing players to benefit financially from their name, image and likeness.