UNC Basketball: Tar Heel duo ranks among most marketable players

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 25: Deja Kelly #25 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dribbles as Brea Beal #12 of the South Carolina Gamecocks defends during the first half in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 Round at Greensboro Coliseum Complex on March 25, 2022 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 25: Deja Kelly #25 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dribbles as Brea Beal #12 of the South Carolina Gamecocks defends during the first half in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 Round at Greensboro Coliseum Complex on March 25, 2022 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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UNC basketball standouts Deja Kelly and Armando Bacot have been among the nation’s best at marketing themselves since the NIL rules were adopted.

The world of college sports changed drastically on July 1, 2021.

This is the day that the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules were adopted, as this new law provided student-athletes across the country the opportunity to make money off their brand.

For the UNC basketball program, many players have thrived in this new setting. Between business sponsorships, basketball camps, and special guest appearances, a variety of Tar Heels have really benefitted from these new rules.

However, two current Tar Heels have stood out the most, as Deja Kelly and Armando Bacot have put themselves among the most marketable college basketball players in the entire country.

Myron Medcalf of ESPN put together his list of the top 25 most marketable college basketball players and ranks both Kelly and Bacot among his top 15.

Let’s start with Kelly, who comes in at No. 13 on the list.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to see the rising junior on the list, as she’s partnered with some very well-known brands since the NIL rules were put into place. From the likes of Beats by Dre and Dunkin Donuts to becoming an ambassador for Forever 21 and Sports Illustrated’s Summer Capsule Campaign, the San Antonio, Texas native’s stardom simply continues to rise.

Here’s what Medcalf had to say regarding Kelly’s placement on this impressive list.

"The junior, who was named first-team all-ACC after averaging 16.5 PPG in 2021-22, returns to a Tar Heels team determined to make it past the Sweet 16 this season. At just 20 years old, Kelly is also the proud owner of a BMW SUV, bought with money received from NIL deals with brands such as Essentia Water and Beats by Dre in the past year."

Kelly also continues to give back to her community, as she recently hosted an EmPOWERment camp for female athletes. Along with providing some unique basketball training, the current UNC basketball standout also made an effort to provide campers with some life and business skills that could benefit them in the future.

After a run to the Sweet 16 last season, Kelly has aspirations of leading the Tar Heels even further this time around. As she continues to thrive on the court, expect plenty more endorsement deals to head her way.

For Bacot, he finds himself as the No. 14 rated player on the list, just one spot behind Kelly. The rising senior is benefitting from a ton of exposure on the national stage, as the Tar Heels made an impressive run to the national championship game.

When you win at a big school like North Carolina, opportunities will certainly present themself in this new-found NIL era. When you’re individually putting up historic numbers at an illustrious program, as Bacot continues to do, you very much could be in line to make a ton of money off endorsement deals.

"It pays to be a leader at a school like North Carolina, the 2021 national runner-up. Bacot’s mom told Sports Illustrated in June that the senior, who became the first player in NCAA tournament history with six double-doubles in one tournament last season, will make more than $500,000 in NIL deals in 2022-23 — a package that includes asking for more than $2,500 in appearance fees and for autographs, according to Opendorse."

Yes, Bacot is benefitting from his Name, Image, and Likeness, but the rising senior has also given back to the community in various ways. Most recently, Bacot hosted a two-day Back To School Basketball Camp that was free to all participants.

Both Kelly and Bacot are tremendous representatives of the UNC basketball program, as both student-athletes simply continue to succeed both on and off the court.

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