Johnny Juzang, who helped lead the UCLA Bruins to the Final Four last March, has become the first men's basketball player to sign a NIL deal with WME Sports.
The agency will represent Juzang's name, image, and likeness.
“NIL is such a great opportunity for collegiate athletes to generate something from their name while in school. At the end of the day, it’s THEIR name,” Juzang told ClutchPoints.
In July, a combination of state laws and NCAA rules changes went into effect that enable college athletes to make money by selling their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights.
LSU gymnast and social media influencer Olivia Dunne and Jackson State football player Shedeur Sanders (the son of JSU's head coach, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders) are similarly repped by WME Sports. Sanders signed on as a brand ambassador for Beats By Dre.
Through WME, Juzang has already inked an endorsement deal with Legends, a Los Angeles-based performance apparel company. According to Variety, “WME Sports is developing a UCLA x Johnny Juzang licensing program with a selection of approved UCLA licensing partners.”
Juzang, a native of Tarzana, CA, and alumnus of Harvard-Westlake high school, spent his freshman season playing for the Kentucky Wildcats before he transferred back home to play for Mick Cronin at UCLA.
The 6'6 swingman averaged 16.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on .441/.353/.877 shooting splits across 27 games last season. In the NCAA Tournament, he put up 22.8 PPG on 50.9% shooting and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tourney's East Region.
Juzang, 20, will enter the 2021-22 season as one of the best players in the nation. The Bruins are projected to be ranked in the preseason top five.
Juzang initially declared for the 2021 NBA Draft, but later decided to return to school after testing the waters.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony currently has Juzang at No. 38 on his 2022 NBA Draft board.
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