College hoops are on the up! Leading Kansas in his senior year, Hunter Dickinson’s been on fire. Although he faced ejection in the big game against Duke, looks like it might not have hit him much as his stock continues to soar. Entering the $2 million NIL club is no small feat, and while Hunter has earned every penny, Duke freshman prodigy Cooper Flagg has already crossed that milestone—and then some—in no time at all. 

Flagg’s NIL valuation has soared to $2.9 million. Meanwhile, the Jayhawk star’s hefty boost comes after a controversial moment in Kansas’s November 26 showdown against Duke. It was indeed a game that had fans everywhere glued to their screens. Midway through the second half, with Kansas clinging to a lead over Duke, their center was at the center of a heated play.

In a scramble for possession, he inadvertently kicked Duke’s Maliq Brown in the face. The refs reviewed the play and hit him with a Flagrant 2 foul, leading to an automatic ejection with 10:26 left on the clock.

For most teams, losing their star player in crunch time would be a de-th sentence. But Kansas rallied, showcasing that this is what makes them the No. 1 team in the nation. Meanwhile, the drama surrounding Dickinson’s ejection only amplified his profile.

Until that game, the 24-year-old’s NIL value was $1.9 million, according to On3. But the incident—and the attention it brought—has seemingly pushed his valuation to an even $2 million. Sometimes, just sometimes, bad press somehow turns into big bucks.

Dickinson’s NIL portfolio features partnerships with big brands like Keurig, Skims, Adidas, and Minsky’s Pizza. On the Roundball Podcast, which he co-hosts, he opened up about the stark difference in earning potential between his time at Michigan and Kansas. He transferred to play with the Jayhawks last year.

“At Michigan, I got less than six figures for the year,” he revealed. Even though he still had a love for his first school, Kansas was still the best option. Coach Bill Self couldn’t be more happy about his decision either. 

“He is the most prepared-to-produce player we’ve ever recruited. No one has ever arrived here better prepared to produce or receive accolades,” Self told ESPN. With endorsements pouring in and his NIL valuation soaring, Dickinson is living up to the hype both on and off the court.

Meanwhile, Cooper Flagg is in a league of His own. While Dickinson is making waves as a senior, he is rewriting the rules as a freshman. At just 17 years old, Flagg’s NIL valuation has skyrocketed to $2.9 million, and he’s already locked in deals with some of the biggest brands in sports.

Flagg made history by becoming the first men’s college basketball player to sign with Gatorade. This isn’t just any partnership, it’s something that puts him alongside legendary names like Jayson Tatum, Candace Parker, and Caitlin Clark. For Flagg, this partnership is deeply personal.

“For me, it was a huge opportunity coming from a family that drank Gatorade pretty much my whole life. I grew up with my brothers drinking Gatorade almost every day,” he said. Also, being a part of the brand alongside big W stars is “kind of surreal” for him. And, as they say, when it rains, it pours because that’s not all. Flagg has also partnered with New Balance and Cort Furniture. But can his NIL value break the record in the future? We never know! 

Can Cooper Flagg surpass Bronny James’ NIL record?

Cooper Flagg’s rise has sparked comparisons to Bronny James, whose $7.2 million NIL valuation remains the highest ever recorded in both high school and college basketball circles. However, according to entrepreneur Joe Pompliano, the Duke guard is uniquely positioned to challenge that record.

“As of now, Flagg is the fifth most valuable college athlete behind guys like Shedeur Sanders and Arch Manning but ahead of other guys like Jalen Milroe and Cameron Ward,” Pompliano said on The Joe Pomp Show. He also highlighted that Duke’s prodigy made it happen just after his debut game, while the rest of these guys have played several years of college sports. And now, he is almost set to touch Manning’s $3.1 million value.

Pompliano added, “We’ll see how this plays out over the next few months both on and off the court but I believe Cooper Flagg is uniquely positioned to be the face of NIL this year.” And, well, he could surpass James. It’s not hard to see why. 

The hooper is projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft by ESPN and has already proven himself as one of the most versatile players in college basketball. He has been incredible, from his dominant high school stats to his performances at the Nike Hoop Summit. 

Scouts are particularly impressed with his defensive intensity and improved three-point shooting. Add in his nonstop energy and ability to guard multiple positions. While the Duke guard is the favorite for the No. 1 pick, Rutgers-bound Ace Bailey, a 6’9″ guard ranked No. 2 in the ESPN 100, is seen as Flagg’s biggest rival. Still, most scouts believe Flagg’s combination of skill and versatility gives him the edge. Let’s see what the future holds for him!