North Carolina's Armando Bacot enters NIL deal with Frosted Flakes

North Carolina senior forward Armando Bacot used his name, image and likeness rights to enter into an NIL deal with Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and its Mission Tiger program. On Tuesday, Bacot visited a Food Lion in Pittsboro, North Carolina, for four hours, where he visited with fans.

“It means a lot to give back to my community with Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, especially the young athletes in Chapel Hill,” Bacot said in a statement. “I know there can be a lot of pressure on kids to make the varsity team or win the championship game, so I hope Tony the Tiger and I can help remind kids that the most important thing is to just go out there, do your best and have fun.”

Bacot and the Frosted Flakes mascot Tony the Tiger will also go to Brogden Middle School in Durham, North Carolina, where they’ll provide a donation that will fund sports equipment, according to a news release. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit DonorsChoose will facilitate the donation.

“Kids are quitting sports by age 11 due to an economic crunch that cuts access and opportunities for them to play and just have fun,” Kellogg Company Senior Director of Brand Marketing Laura Newman said in a statement. “Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes understands the vital role both fun and funding play in keeping kids in the game, so we’ve called on some of the most fun and talented college athletes to join our Mission Tiger team to help us bring fun back to youth sports and deliver donations to local middle schools.”

Armando Bacot announced return to North Carolina

In March, Bacot announced his return to Chapel Hill for a fifth-year senior season by utilizing his extra year of eligibility that the NCAA granted winter-sport athletes during the 2020-21 academic year.

Bacot was one of a number of highly talented, veteran big men who capitalized on their NIL opportunities when they returned to school last season. Bacot made that decision again this offseason while a new wave of players in a similar position, like reigning Naismith Player of the Year Zach Edey, embraced the new realities of college basketball by choosing to continue their college careers.

Daniel Hennes, the CEO of the online event booking platform Engage and an advisor to Bacot, told On3 this spring, “I can tell you, Armando’s made more in NIL than he would’ve on a two-way contract in the G League.”

Bacot is a former five-star recruit who was ranked No. 19 in the 2019 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. As a junior, he helped North Carolina reach the national championship game, where it fell to Kansas.

Bacot has partnered with a number of high-profile companies, such as Dunkin‘, MoneyLion, Rhoback and ZIPS Car Wash. He has an On3 NIL Valuation of $549,000.