UConn's Sanogo hits an NIL gusher with Sunoco
Apr. 12—It's been quite a last few weeks for UConn junior center Adama Sanogo.
Sanogo, who averaged 19.6 points in six NCAA Tournament games and was named Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four as the Huskies won their fifth national championship, has signed an NIL deal with oil company Sunoco.
Sanogo made the announcement in a video showing him in a tropical location that was released on his Instagram page (therealadama21) and Sunoco's (gosunoco).
"What a crazy ride," Sanogo said in the video. "I'm teaming up with my No. 1 super fan Sunoco to do a signed jersey collab. So to my biggest fans and everyone who cheered for me, thank you. I have a feeling people are going to know my name now."
International students such as Sanogo, who is from Mali, technically can't sign name-image-likeness deals because U.S. rules prohibit those here on a student visa from working off campus. Three weeks ago, Connecticut Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security urging it to allow international college athletes get NIL deals without fear of losing their lawful status as students.
But Pete Nakos, a college sports business reporter for On3Sports, wrote that if Sanogo "executed the agreement in international waters, there's a good chance he can profit from the partnership."
The UConn women have been benefitting from NIL, with Paige Bueckers holding an NIL valuation of $824,000, according to On3.com.
NIL rules won't apply should Sanogo forego his final year of eligibility to turn pro.
Fans who want to enter the contest for the signed jersey can like Sanogo's post, tag a friend and follow the company on Instagram. As of Wednesday morning Sanogo had about 12,700 followers. Bueckers has about a million.
Winners will be selected on Thursday.
