South Carolina early enrollee Chloe Kitts signs with Excel Sports for NIL representation

Chloe Kitts only committed to South Carolina in November.

Ranked in the top 20 of the 2023 recruiting class, the forward made the decision to enroll early and join the Gamecocks this season. She made her debut earlier this week, dropping 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds in a win over Charleston Southern.

And now Kitts has signed NIL representation. The freshman has signed with Excel Sport Management where she will primarily work with Erin Kane.

“It’s extremely important because I need to handle myself on the court, and then it transfers over to be able to do stuff like this and get deals,” Kitts told On3 in a phone interview earlier this week. “These are people I trust and my family trust. I know I’m in good hands.”

Kitts averaged 18.7 points and 8.2 rebounds a year ago at Daytona, Florida’s DME Academy. She then helped USA Basketball win a gold medal at the FIBA U18 Americas Championships in Buenos Aires this summer.

She averaged 7.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game averaging just 15.2 minutes in the tournament.

Through connections with other players and recruits, she started to hear more and more about Excel. Kane joined the agency in February, brining over a list of WNBA clients including all-stars Elena Delle Donne and Arike Ogunbowale.

“I already know people who have relationships with Excel, like some of my teammates do,” Kitts said. “People I’ve played with and I’m close with — Janiah Barker — they signed with them. And I’ve talked to some of them about Excel. I just felt like I had a good relationship with Erin. I felt like my dad and my mom did, too.”

Kitts is surrounded by teammates who have had plenty of NIL success. Zia Cooke works directly with Excel and just gifted her teammates Beats by Dre headphones for the holidays. Reigning National Player of the Year Aliyah Boston boasts a notable NIL portfolio, signing with crocs, Orangetheory Fitness and Under Armour.

The freshman will be in the same national spotlight as her teammates. Finding NIL opportunities won’t be a problem. She also wants to place a focus on giving back to the community through her partnerships.

And above all else, making the jump to play college basketball in the SEC will be her chief priority.

“It’s extremely important for me to stay focused,” Kitts said. “I know I can stay focused. I’m worrying about the court right now, and I know everything else will come. I just need to lock in. I want to keep the main thing, the main thing.”