Khalil Shabazz, Tyrell Roberts sign with Scarborough Custom Tailoring

San Francisco sixth-year senior guards Khalil Shabazz and Tyrell Roberts announced last week that they have partnered with Scarborough Custom Tailoring. The San Francisco-focused NIL collective, The Hilltop Club, facilitated the name, image and likeness partnerships.

“The owner Christian Gardner provides custom tailoring solutions for kind of the movers and shakers in the Bay Area,” The Hilltop Club Executive Director Ryan Oppelt said in a phone interview. “Executives, professional athletes, entertainers, politicians, etcetera.”

Through their partnerships, Shabazz and Roberts will use their NIL rights for advertising and marketing for Scarborough Custom Tailoring through social media posts and appearances. As part of their compensation, they received a custom suit fitting and soon, a suit.

The players were able to select the details of their respective suit, including the type of collar and the buttons.

Shout out to the @HilltopClubUSF and the custom suit tailoring partnership with @scarboroughSFO. Christian is the
🐐 when it comes to the tailoring process and using the highest quality materials. Cannot wait for the finished product! #menstyle #customtailoring #NIL #USFDons pic.twitter.com/HuW6s1TDIj

— Khalil Shabazz (@Khalilshabazz0) January 31, 2023

“They got to obviously meet Christian, kind of learn about all the fabrics and their origins and the different weights and qualities so it was kind of a cool education for the guys as well,” Oppelt said.

Shabazz and Roberts are the top two scorers for the Dons, respectively. Shabazz is averaging 16 points per game, while Roberts is averaging 15.2 per game. The former also recently became the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made.

The Dons are 15-11 (4-7 WCC) under first-year head coach Chris Gerlufsen.

Oppelt described the two players not only as the team’s dynamic duo in the backcourt and ambassadors for the university and the collective, but also as fashion-forward. Oppelt said there will be a fitting and final reveal that were agreed upon in the contract, which he said he expects to take place in the next three to four weeks.

The Hilltop Club creates NIL opportunities for San Francisco athletes

Founders Matt Quinlan and Philip Spiegel launched The Hilltop Club as an LLC last September. The collective offers individual and business memberships. They range from $1,000 from a bronze membership to $25,000 for an executive membership.

Oppelt said The Hilltop Club plans to promote public appearances and access to players, while also connecting with community-based organizations.

“We’re really excited that we’re building some great momentum here as we’re kind of just sort of launching and getting through this, not only in kind of what we’ve been able to do currently here in our NIL space, but also kind of in the future, looking toward the future,” Oppelt said. “How can we sort of navigate this (and) impact USF student-athlete opportunities for the future and really kind of ensure that USF is a really desirable landing spot for student-athletes across the board?

“NIL’s now a component here, in addition to the great opportunities that exist at USF.”

Shabazz and Roberts were quoted on The Hilltop Club’s website upon its launch.

“These days, college athletes are looking for opportunities to earn money from their name, image and likeness,” Shabazz said in a statement for the website. “The Hilltop Club sets up opportunities for us to do that at USF!”

San Francisco’s athletic department has promoted The Hilltop Club. In early January, athletic director Larry Williams published a letter on the athletic department’s website that endorsed the collective to alumni and fans.

“By complimenting the completed and planned USF Athletic improvements and supporting the USF scholarship fund, operating resources, and special projects, a robust NIL program can also help build USF basketball to a level of national prominence and achievement,” Williams wrote.