Howard men’s basketball becomes first HBCU squad to sign teamwide NIL deal
WASHINGTON — For a program to make a significant mark nationally, they must do something significant. Usually this is something like making program history, winning a championship or setting records. However, Howard men’s basketball made a splash on the national scale for what it did off the court — becoming the first Historically Black College or University to sign a teamwide Name, Image and Likeness deal when it agreed to a deal with College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving.
“This partnership holds even more significance since Washington, D.C. is where Omar and I were born and raised and where College HUNKS originated as a business,” College HUNKS co-founder Nick Friedman said in a press release. “Our sponsorship of the Howard University men’s basketball players also ushers in a new era for NIL in the Washington, D.C. metro area and, more importantly, for HBCU athletes nationwide.”
The first full-team HBCU NIL deal ✅
Howard University Men's Basketball signed an endorsement deal with College Hunks yesterday. @HUMensBB @CollegeHunks pic.twitter.com/D8MC7GE2Zd
— Andrew Petcash (@AndrewPetcash) November 29, 2021
According to the company, the Howard players will receive a specified dollar amount up front to split evenly and will also have opportunities to individually earn more money through incentives with the company by bringing in new clients or employees.
“My teammates and I are looking forward to partnering with College HUNKS to promote their amazing employment opportunities for frontline staff, their moving and hauling services for clients, as well as their franchise opportunities for aspiring business owners,” Howard men’s basketball team captain Tai Bibbs said in the release.
This addition ties in with some other decisions made by College HUNKS as they became one of the first nationwide companies to sign an NIL deal with a Division I athlete by signing Miami quarterback D’Eriq King and later signed the University of Central Florida women’s basketball team to a deal, becoming the first company to sign an entire female team to an NIL deal. They also recently signed a deal with the San Diego State Aztecs football team as well, so this is not their first entry into the male side of team sports either.
However, unlike those other players and programs, Howard University has close ties to the company and its ownership. Co-founders Friedman and Omar Soliman grew up in Washington D.C. and attended Howard University homecoming events during that time. Friedman also played on the Howard University intramural club basketball team and won the national championship with the team in 2007.
“By sponsoring the Howard University players and being the first to partner with an HBCU basketball team, we hope to inspire and help people across the country learn about the amazing employment opportunities with our company as well as opportunities for financial freedom through franchise ownership,” Friedman continued in the release.
While the company, headquartered in nearby Rockville, Maryland, would’ve likely made a deal with the team regardless, they are lucky enough to be supporting a team seemingly on the rise. The Bison are currently 5-4 with an impressive win over Bradley University while playing Mount St. Mary’s, a 2020 NCAA Tournament team, to a two-point loss. In addition, the Bison played a difficult game against then-No. 5 Villanova. The Bison will play another tough opponent against Georgetown on the road on Dec. 15. Currently ranked No. 2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Howard will look to punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament come March.
Even if they don’t make it to the Big Dance, this Bison squad will be remembered thanks to its history making deal. Opening the door for fellow HBCUs to follow suit, Howard may have made the first step in the right direction for HBCU NIL deals.
