Check out Hansel Enmanuel's new NIL deal with Oakley
Hansel Enmanuel, the one-armed basketball star, promoted a new NIL deal with Oakley to his 1.6 million followers on Instagram. The deal was facilitated by Z-Axis Sports, which represents Enmanuel in NIL dealings.
“Continuing to defy what’s possible,” Enmanuel said in the post announcing the Oakley NIL partnership. “Let’s get it.”
Oakley welcomed him to the “team” through an Instagram story to its 2.6 million followers. While the partnership was announced officially on Tuesday, Enmanuel has been seen all over his social media accounts in the past wearing Oakley sunglasses.
Hansel Enmanuel has taken the NIL world by storm.
Enmanuel played in 20 games this past season at Northwestern State. He had a season-best three rebounds and 17 minutes against Houston Christian in January and became a regular fixture in the starting lineup late in the season.
“I think some people thought he was just here for a dog and pony show,” Northwestern State coach Corey Gipson said following the Southland Conference’s championship game. “I don’t know a player in sports period that has more pressure on himself and herself more than him. He’s a global sensation. He came to Northwestern State and did not get any playing time at all. But he worked and got himself into the starting lineup.”
Eventually, Enmanuel announced his transfer to Austin Peay in May.
Hansel Enmanuel has massive NIL brand
Even with the limited minutes at Northwestern State, Hansel Enmanuel is a well-known name in the basketball world. He became a dominant high school recruit after losing his left arm when he was 6 years old.
Enmanuel also has one of the largest social media followings in all college sports. Along with the 1.6 million Instagram followers, Hansel Enmanuel’s TikTok account has 2.8 million followers and has generated a jaw-dropping 34.1 million likes.
The deal with Oakley adds to Hansel Enmanuel’s growing list of partnerships that already include adidas, T-Mobile, Champs Sports, Gatorade and many others. He was also a featured member of an NIL deal in July with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s ZOA Energy Drink. He appeared in a video with rapper J. Cole.
“Hansel not only creates a lot of value from a sheer visibility perspective but his personal story and brand is one that inspires people,” Christopher Aumueller, CEO of FanWord, an athlete storytelling platform. “And it’s no surprise to see brands – rightfully so – wanting to align with Hansel and support him.”
Michael Ehrlich, the founder of marketing and consulting agency Playbook Marketing, was not surprised that Enmanuel has added yet another global brand to his high-profile NIL portfolio.
“His inspiring story on and off the court combined with his skillset as a content creator and storyteller, make him the ideal brand ambassador,” Ehrlich told On3. “He is a shining example of the endless possibilities that NIL offers any athlete, not just superstars at top programs. He is someone who has faced immense challenges in his life, but has the opportunity to use his platform to inspire others and build a robust business for himself at the same time.”
Enmanuel, a Dominican Republic native who played his high school basketball at Kissimmee (Florida) Life Academy, received approval for an O-1 visa last year, which gives him the ability to pursue NIL deals in the U.S. through his newfound work authorization.