In the current landscape of college basketball, it's clear -- NIL is a large part, if not the biggest part of the decision making process for prospets. Look no further than Kentucky donors to pledge $4 million to its NIL fund after the hire of Mark Pope was announced.
While it can be benificial in landing recruits, it can single-handedly lose you current or prospective players as well.
And, that's exactly what one booster of an SEC school is doing against Kentucky. But it's not who you would think.
Jerry Jones -- yes, that Jerry Jones -- the face of the Dallas Cowboys has reportdely been involved in 'bidding' wars with Kentucky.
Jones, who is a booster and graduate of Arkansas, has been offering 'double whatever' any Kentucky commit was going to be making in Lexington, to come to Arkansas.
“Jerry Jones is reportedly offering double whatever the Kentucky commits were making to come to Arkansas, per @trillydonovan,” College Basketball Report posted on Twitter. “Jerry Jones is an Arkansas booster and reportedly helped them hire John Calipari last week.”
Jerry Jones is reportedly offering DOUBLE whatever the Kentucky commits were making to come to Arkansas, per @trillydonovan
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) April 18, 2024
Jerry Jones is an Arkansas booster, and reportedly helped them hire John Calipari last week. pic.twitter.com/McgxAF77X1
There have been rumors that Jones played a significant role in helping Arkansas get John Calipari to Fayetteville.
Kentucky, who had a six-man recruiting class under Calipari, has just one member of its class intact. That is also the only in-state player from the class, Travis Perry. Former commits Boogie Fland, Karter Knox, Jayden Quaintance, Somto Cyril and Billy Richmond have all re-opened their recruitments.
It is rumored that a handful, if not all, will follow Calipari to Arkansas. While none of them have officially committed yet, Kentucky transfer center Zvonimir Ivisic announced his pledge to Calipari and the Razorbacks earlier this week.
While NIL is a heavy part of the college game, Mark Pope has made it evident who he wants in Lexington. And, that's kids who want to be there.
"Our guys will know quickly, and it is hard not to know, it will be one of the great honors of their life to put that jersey on," Pope said during his introductory press conference. "There is only a select few players in the world that ever get to wear a Kentucky jersey, to wear a Kentucky jersey, it is one of the greatest honors guys can ever have as a basketball player."