UConn stars appear on game-used court NIL trading cards

The Players Trunk has released a limited-edition NIL trading card series featuring UConn basketball stars Adama Sanogo, Andre Jackson and Tristen Newton. All three players were key members of UConn’s run to the 2022-2023 national championship.

Trading cards are not exactly new entries into the NIL space. But what makes The Players Trunk’s version unique is the cards are officially licensed by UConn and feature pieces of the court from Gampel Pavilion.

The 34-year-old facility is going through a $300 million upgrade. The renovations allowed The Players Trunk to work with UConn to include a 1/16 inch by 1/16-inch piece of game-used floor on the cards. The pieces feature either traditional natural wood colors or blue or white pieces from the lanes, including the Big East logo.

The Players Trunk co-founder Hunter Pomerantz said the cards are “selling great so far.” Each card is uniquely numbered and foil stamped, he said. Jackson and Sanogo each have 175 cards for sale. Newton has 150 cards available. The cards are $50 apiece.

“This extraordinary collectible not only captures the essence of UConn greatness,” Pomerantz told On3. “But it also embeds within it a piece of the game-used court, forever connecting fans to the heart and soul of the Husky legacy.”

The Players Trunk was launched by former Michigan Wolverines basketball players Charles Matthews, Zavier Simpson, and managers Jason Lansing, Austin and Hunter Pomerantz. The company is a platform for former college athletes to capitalize on the gear they earned during their college careers.

Sanogo capitalizes on NIL after UConn departure

Sanogo, who was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, signed a two-year free-agent contract with the Chicago Bulls after failing to be selected in the NBA draft.

Before declaring for the NBA draft, Sanogo had limited NIL opportunities because he is from Mali. International athletes who reside in the U.S. with an F-1 student visa have strict restrictions on earning abilities. He was able to take advantage of one major NIL deal while at UConn – a partnership with gas station company Sunoco, which sounds similar to his name.

In his third and final season at UConn, Sanogo averaged 17.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game on 60.6% shooting overall. Sanogo had an On3 NIL Valuation of $775,000.

Andre Jackson picked in 2nd round

Jackson delivered on and off the court for the Huskies before being selected in the second round by the Orlando Magic. He was later traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.

In the 2022-23 season, Jackson played 32 games, including 28 starts, and averaged 6.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 29.2 minutes. A co-captain last season, Jackson Jr. was selected to the 2022-23 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award Top 15 watch list. Plus, he was the most followed member of UConn’s national title-winning team on social media.

Jackson was active in NIL space, signing on with Postgame’s Urban Outfitters campaign ahead of the Final Four. Before he departed UConn, he had an On3 NIL Valuation of $54,000.

Tristen Newton returns for 2023

Tristen Newton announced in late May he was returning to UConn for the 2023-2024 season.

The 6-foot-5 guard was the first player in UConn basketball history to have multiple triple-doubles in one season, accomplishing the feat against Buffalo in November and again on the road against No. 10 Marquette in February. Overall, he averaged 10.1 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 2022-23.

Newton also averaged 9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Huskies in the NCAA Tournament, with a 1.8 assist/turnover ratio. He also scored 19 points in the national championship game.

About the On3 NIL Valuation

The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets the standard market NIL value for high school and college athletes. A proprietary algorithm, the On3 NIL Valuation calculates an athlete’s NIL value using dynamic data points targeting three primary categories: performance, influence and exposure.

About On3 NIL Valuation, Brand Value, Roster Value While the algorithm includes deal data, it does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals athletes have completed to date, nor does it set an athlete’s NIL valuation for their entire career. The On3 NIL Valuation calculates the optimized NIL opportunity for athletes relative to the overall NIL market and projects out to 12 months.