"Instead, multiple top guards have landed deals north of $2 million. The surge of spending comes as basketball war chests balloon. Schools like Arkansas, Kentucky, and Louisville are viewed as some of the sport’s top spenders, but Big East programs are closing in on $6 to $8 million budgets thanks to revenue sharing," wrote Nakos.

Paige Bueckers is widely expected to become the first WNBA No. 1 overall draft pick from the University of Connecticut since Breanna Stewart nine years ago. Both became can’t-miss stars in college, both are UConn icons,

Utah is one of 16 teams playing in the inaugural tournament that has a $500,000 NIL package, with $300,000 awarded to the winner.