Kenny Brooks shows appreciation for NIL opportunities at Kentucky

The Blue-White Preseason Event was good for what it was designed to do. It raised NIL, and it rewarded fans in attendance with interactive and participatory features throughout the night. Kenny Brooks made sure to show his appreciation for the NIL opportunities that the Blue-White Preseason Event created.

“What a fun event,” Brooks said following the women’s team’s scrimmage. “It’s really, really cool — for a great purpose. You know, I think I heard that we as a university with the Blue-White Game, it’s the first time it’s an opportunity for NIL, opportunities for kids.”

He added, “It’s a new wave, and I’m old school. Generally, I don’t like opportunities like this because you’re putting [the team] out there, and we had practice earlier today. But, you know, it’s a new age. We’re getting creative with the collective. Club Blue does a wonderful job just trying to keep us ahead of the game, so to speak. It’s for a great cause — good for the fans to be able to come out.”

Of course, the steep ticket price and no television or streaming wasn’t ideal, and Brooks understands that. Everyone involved in the NIL part of UK Athletics is still learning to how to operate in this new age that we’re in.

“I know sometimes it’s not always the best scenario for all parties, but it’s just really going to be something that’s going to help us in the future and to grow as we try to navigate through these new times in college athletics.”

Of course, even with the bad, Brooks was still very thankful for the good that transpired inside of Historic Memorial Coliseum.

“All in all, everything else aside, it was a fun night. Our kids got to go out there for the first time in Memorial and cut the lights on. For me, it was fun to see who can actually shoot when the lights come on. They weren’t nervous. They were having fun with it. The scrimmage was good. It was a great night altogether.”