Florida Commit Xaivian Lee Makes Historic NIL Announcement on Thursday

DePaula added more context, emphasizing the historic nature of the agreement:

"Deal makes @XaivianLee the 1st NCAA NIL athlete to sign a shoe deal with an international brand. Includes PE shoe & apparel."

Lee is the first NCAA athlete to secure a signature shoe deal with a global brand through NIL. This kind of partnership, once unimaginable for college players, marks a breakthrough and is likely the first of many.

Lee officially transferred from Princeton to Florida in mid-April. When discussing the move with The Daily Princetonian, he spoke highly of his time in the Ivy League but made it clear that he saw Florida as the next step toward bigger goals.

"I think everyone has their own goals. For me, I’m chasing a larger goal,” Lee said. “There’s an opportunity cost that comes with it, but for me, I want to put myself in the best position to achieve those goals. It’s definitely not easy giving up a Princeton degree.”

The guard appeared in 91 games for Princeton, averaging 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists in his final season. His last game with the Tigers came on March 15, where he played all 40 minutes and scored 14 points in a 59-57 semifinal loss to the Yale Bulldogs in the Ivy League Tournament.

With elite playmaking ability and a new NIL deal under his belt, Lee arrives in Gainesville poised to make an impact, both on the court and in the business of college basketball.