May 2021 Basketball Wiretap

Mikey Williams Signs With Excel For NIL

Jul 22, 2021 11:12 AM

Mikey Williams has become the first prep basketball star to sign with a major sports representation agency to pursue name, image and likeness endorsements and sponsorships.

Williams will attend Lake Norman Christian in Huntersville, North Carolina, and play for Vertical Academy. Williams has signed a deal with Excel Sports Management that Excel vice president Matt Davis said he believes "will generate millions of dollars for this young man."

"Mikey's relevance around his peers in the basketball community is off the charts," Davis told ESPN. "He's one of the most relevant personalities in the basketball community. His digital and social following speak for themselves."

Williams is the No. 7 prospect in the Class of 2023 and has over five million followers across multiple social media platforms.

While legislation recently allowed for college athletes to financially profit from NIL endorsement opportunities, no high school prospect unaffiliated with a college program has shown the ability to generate the revenue that Williams appears on the cusp of earning.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Mikey Williams, High School, NCAA, NBA

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Texas Lands No. 1 Transfer Marcus Carr

Jul 17, 2021 3:28 PM

The University of Texas has received a commitment from Marcus Carr, the No. 1 transfer this offseason. 

Carr opted for Texas instead of pursuing a professional basketball option in Australia. Louisville, Kentucky and Kansas were also on his final list of transfer options.

Carr earned third-team All-Big Ten honors last season with Minnesota after averaging 19.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

Jeff Borzello/ESPN

Tags: Texas Longhorns, NCAA, NCAA Transfer

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Jalen Lewis Signs Multi-Year Deal With Overtime Elite

Jul 9, 2021 10:29 AM

Jalen Lewis is signing a multi-year deal with the Overtime Elite professional league worth more than $1 million.

Lewis, 16 and born in 2005, is the youngest prospect ever to turn pro in America. 

Lewis is the 12th ranked prospect int he class of 2023 with interest from Kentucky, Duke and UCLA.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Jalen Lewis, High School, NCAA, NBA, D-League

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Johnny Juzang Withdraws From Draft, Returns To UCLA

Jul 8, 2021 10:31 AM

Johnny Juzang is withdrawing from the 2021 NBA Draft to return to UCLA.

"Going through the draft process has been an amazing experience. I was blessed to connect with great people, learn and grow, and get a feel for life at the next level. I want to thank everybody who has helped me in this process including my family, trainers, school, and especially my dad who helped for countless hours!" Juzang posted to Twitter. "Westwood, I can't wait to go to war! We've got a team full of warriors and there's nobody I'd rather fight beside. With Coach Cronin and our staff, I'm very excited for this season. Let's do something special!"

In the Bruins' six NCAA tournament games, Juzang averaged 22.8 points and shot 50.9% from the field. Juzang averaged 16.0 points and 4.1 rebounds during the season.

ESPN rated Juzang as the No. 53 prospect in the draft, making him a fringe second round prospect. 

Jeff Borzello/ESPN

Tags: Johnny Juzang, UCLA Bruins, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Withdrawals

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Ohio's Jason Preston To Remain In Draft

Jul 7, 2021 6:50 PM

Jason Preston of Ohio University will remain in the 2021 NBA draft and sign with drew Gross of Roc Nation Sports.

Preston is No. 43 on ESPN's Top 100 and could end up being draft in the first round.

Preston's declaration for the draft culminates an improbable journey from bench-warming high school player, to aspiring sportswriter, to the architect of Ohio's NCAA tournament upset of No. 4 seed Virginia in March.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Jason Preston, Ohio Bobcats, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Reggie Theus Named Athletic Director, Head Coach At Bethune-Cookman University

Jul 3, 2021 8:35 PM

Reggie Theus is expected to be named the athletic director and men's head basketball coach at Bethune-Cookman University, sources told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.

Theus previously coached at New Mexico State, as well as the Kings and the G League Los Angeles D-Fenders. Theus made one NCAA Tournament with New Mexico State.

Bethune-Cookman University are currently a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Theus will oversee several other sports as athletic director, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, women's bowling, men's and women's cross country, and men's and women's golf, among others. 

Marc J. Spears/The Undefeated

Tags: NCAA, NCAA B-Ball IQ

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