FDU basketball walk-on player gets $25,000 NIL deal at NCAA Final Four
As a walk-on, Brayden Reynolds is playing on Fairleigh Dickinson University’s basketball team for the love of the game.
Turns out, that love has yielded some financial benefits.
Reynolds is one of five walk-ons to be awarded $25,000 name-image-likeness deals by Degree Deodorant during the NCAA Tournament. The award was presented to Reynolds on Sunday at the Final Four's "Fan Fest" in Houston by none other than Hall of Fame hoopster Julius "Dr. J." Erving.
“Honestly, I don’t have a lot of words to describe it," Reynolds said via phone. "Meeting Dr. J and having this opportunity, it’s just crazy to think about. I’m very thankful for everything that’s happened this past month.”
The 6-foot-1 freshman guard, who hails from Pittsburgh, appeared in 32 games for the Knights this past season, averaging 10 minutes, 1.7 points and 1.0 assists off the bench. He logged 13 minutes in the Knights’ NCAA Tournament-clinching win over St. Francis (Pa.) in the Northeast Conference Tournament semifinals, grabbed six rebounds in the NEC final against Merrimack, scored four points in the First Four win over Texas Southern, played 12 minutes in the historic upset of top-seeded Purdue, and recorded two points and two assists in 11 minutes of the Round of 32 loss to Florida Atlantic.
The other walk-ons to receive $25,000 NIL deals from Degree, which is the official deodorant of March Madness, are Andre Johnson, Jr. (UConn), Spencer Hubbard (Duke University), Ronnie Porter (Wisconsin) and Lauren Zwetzig (Notre Dame). Reynolds was the last among them to be notified. At first, he thought it was a prank.
“Being a walk-on, you have to bring it every day because you don’t have the same opportunities as everyone else – but you’re trying to earn that opportunity," he said. "All this stuff coming back to you over this past month feels so good.”
According to the announcement by Degree, the NIL deal is intended “to cover the average costs and living expenses for one year of college, so they can continue to play basketball without the stress of paying for education. Each student-athlete will also be set up with a professional mentor from Degree's parent company, Unilever, to guide them as they navigate their college years and post-graduation success.”
For his end of the NIL deal, Reynolds said, he'll be stumping for Degree on his social media accounts. As he considers a major in either education or sports management, the $25,000 will make a big difference.
"It definitely will, for sure," he said.
Former FDU head coach Tobin Anderson joined Dr. J in presenting the award to Reynolds. Anderson recently moved over to Iona and FDU replaced him from within, promoting assistant Jack Castleberry.
"I'm very optimistic about the core returning," Reynolds said, "and making another run next year."
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: FDU basketball walk-on player Brayden Reynolds gets NIL at Final Four
