Sixth Man Strategies rolls out 2 NIL initiatives for Kansas basketball

By Matt Tait     Oct 14, 2021

Nick Krug
Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji (30) soars in for a breakaway dunk against UTEP guard Keonte Kennedy (3) during the second half on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Sixth Man Strategies, which oversees and manages name, image and likeness opportunities for all 18 Kansas men’s basketball players, has rolled out its initial NIL initiatives.

The first comes in the form of a raffle that will give 20 winners and a guest of their choosing the opportunity to have dinner with Kansas coach Bill Self and the team next spring in Lawrence at a time and date that will be determined later.

KU fans can purchase raffle tickets in bulk quantities — 10 for $10, 40 for $25, 100 for $50 and 250 for $100 — through Nov. 9. The drawing will take place shortly after that and all winners will be announced via the players and on various Sixth Man Strategies social media platforms.

All funds from the raffle will go to the name, image and likeness fund set up by Sixth Man Strategies for all 18 KU athletes.

In addition to the raffle, Sixth Man Strategies has formally announced details of its 100 Club, another NIL initiative that will feature 100 donors pledging $1,000 per month to the company’s NIL fund.

According to information released about the program, 100 Club donors will have access to annual events with the team and Self, gear, an autographed ball, pre- and postgame events, practices, monthly newsletter, discounted rates on merchandise and greens fees at the Jayhawk Club in Lawrence and more.

According to the flyer announcing the details of the 100 Club: “Our goal with this $1.2 million annual fund is to supersede what every other program is doing nationally in NIL opportunities and ensure Kansas Basketball student-athletes have the resources to remain competitive.”

In addition to searching for donors to help fund the NIL projects, Sixth Man Strategies, which was co-founded by former KU baseball players Matt and Ryan Baty, has sought out to educate Kansas fans and potential donors on why such a program is important for the university and the athletic department.

As ambassadors of the “global brand” that is Kansas Basketball, Sixth Man Strategies believes that KU’s current and future players are in a unique position to represent the school and themselves on a grand scale.

As a result, Sixth Man Strategies, and others, believe that these players deserve to be rewarded for their hard work and the individual brands they have created.

The main goal for Sixth Man Strategies, in no uncertain terms, is for KU to lead the nation in NIL endeavors, which, according to Sixth Man Strategies founders, are “nearly limitless.”

“NIL opportunities are very much an important factor for the nation’s top basketball recruits,” the flyer reads. “For Kansas Basketball to remain competitive, it’s important that recruits considering the program know that the Jayhawk network of supporters will provide opportunities to maximize the value of their brand in comparison to other destinations.”

The flyer also notes that the recent rise in player movement through the transfer portal also figures to be impacted in the future by what NIL opportunities are available.

“Kansas Basketball players need to know that their market opportunities will be supported by our vast Jayhawk network of resources and they will not need to look beyond Kansas for the entirety of their college career.”

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.