Kentucky Basketball to Launch New NIL Collective to Make Kentucky the 'Top NIL Destination in College Basketball'

“Name, image, likeness,” aka NIL, has taken over college athletics. Love it or hate it, you can’t be competitive without it. Kentucky basketball is doing its part to stay on the forefront.

Earlier this week, KY Insider received word that there would be some positive news on Kentucky basketball’s NIL. On Wednesday, that was confirmed. KSR’s Matt Jones reported that Kentucky basketball will be launching a new NIL fund on Thursday, with both John Calipari and Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart heavily involved in the launch.

“Hearing an official Kentucky Basketball NIL Fund will be officially launched tomorrow for the purpose of making UK Basketball the top NIL destination in College Basketball. [John] Calipari and others part of the launch,” Jones said. “As part of the new Kentucky Basketball NIL Fund, fans will be able to participate in ways that include donations but also being active in non-financial ways.”

Last summer, John Calipari was able to collect a significant amount of money via boosters and former players for the 2023-24 season for a rumored $7 million in NIL, among the elite in college basketball. This collective will help keep the Wildcats at that level and maybe even higher.

It is notable that this collective is being supported by Barnhart, who has been criticized for being behind in his views of NIL. Those views seem to changing. Even last week, Barnhart put out a video promoting Kentucky’s current NIL activities.

Barnhart did work with Calipari to make this happen, with Trilly Donavan even suggesting Barnhart got “nervous” about Calipari potentially leaving. While those two may not have the best personal relationship, it is not as bad as some suggest. This news is proof they still work together and want what is best for the program. It also suggests that John Calipari intends to continue coaching at Kentucky for the near future.

It will be interesting to see how Big Blue Nation will be able to participate, even in non-financial ways as Jones pointed out. That said, this is a promising development for the future of Kentucky Basketball.