LAS VEGAS — They are gymnasts, golfers and basketball players. They are New Jersey athletes you’ve seen on television and social media — sometimes a lot — and others that play for your favorite college teams.
They are the true pioneers of the name, image and likeness movement in college sports, the first generation of athletes who have broken down the barrier between amateurism and professionalism that existed in college sports for more than a century.
Rutgers made history this week by competing in the Players Era Festival, the first tournament in college sports history that will pay the athletes on the court. The three-day event gave each of the competing teams the opportunity to earn $1 million for NIL activities that range from autograph signings to charity work.
But long before Rutgers stars Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey had a chance to cash in on their fame as teenagers, other New Jersey athletes have blazed a path that others will continue to follow even as the rules continue to change.
Here are the faces of the NIL generation:
OLIVIA DUNNE
Gymnast, LSU
Perhaps no single athlete has benefited more from the NIL rules, which went into effect in July 2021, than Dunne. The Hillsdale native has used her viral TikTok videos to transcend gymnastics — and, really, sports altogether — with an NIL valuation of $4 million, according to a list from the website On3. “She is the equivalent of the five-tool player in baseball,” said Darren Heitner, a Florida-based attorney who helps college athletes navigate this altered landscape in college athletics. Dunne’s many endorsements include Vuori (sports apparel), L’Oreal (makeup), American Eagle (clothing) and Grubhub (food delivery).
MEGHA GANNE
Golfer, Stanford
Growing up in Jersey City, golfer Megha Ganne used to sneak onto the exclusive Liberty National club at night. Her talent in the sport allowed her to play the course as an amateur during the Mizuho Americas Open the past two summers, but NIL gave her the chance to ink a partnership with the club. “It was just such a quick turn of golfers being allowed to have NIL,” Ganne said. The Stanford star, who now calls Holmdel home, has deals with Delta, TaylorMade and Ralph Lauren.
CLIFF OMORUYI
Basketball, Alabama
The former Roselle Catholic star was the first athlete to truly cash in with NIL deals while playing at Rutgers — although his payday as a senior last season, which sources say was close to $200,000, pales in comparison to what he is reportedly making at Alabama now in his final season of college basketball. While in Piscataway, Omoruyi drew a paycheck from the Knights of the Raritan collective, plus smaller deals with the New Brunswick Development Corporation and local restaurants. Because of F1 visa restrictions, he did all of his NIL work while the team traveled internationally last season.
DOUG EDERT
Basketball, Saint Peter’s
Edert became one of the first athletes to parlay his overnight success into an NIL payday when he cashed in following Saint Peter’s unexpected run to the Elite Eight in 2022. The Nutley native signed deals with Buffalo Wild Wings and Barstool Sports, using his distinctive mustachioed look to help separate him from others on social media. His career, however, is also an example of how this time of success can be short lived as Edert did not make the same kind of impact (or NIL cash) after he transferred to Bryant the next season.
HEZLY RIVERA
Gymnastics, Oradell
The youngest member of Team USA at the Paris Olympics brought home a gold medal, and unlike previous generations of athletes who had to turn pro to capitalize on that fame, the NIL rules have allowed the 17-year-old Oradell native to compete in college while cashing in. She has a deal with Verizon, and not surprisingly, has decided to follow Dunne to an LSU program skilled in helping athletes navigate the NIL world.
MIA AND MYA PALUDO
Basketball, Paterson
The twin basketball stars from Paterson made headlines for inking an NIL deal with sneaker company Puma in 2022 while still playing high school basketball at Morris Catholic. The twins also starred in a YouTube docuseries, partnering with Overtime, that focused on “the grind and sacrifice it takes to attain our ultimate goal of generational wealth.” They are taking their talents — and their business goals — to powerhouse Tennessee. “The girl’s game has never been valued like the boy’s game, (but) those times are changing,” Mya told Blavity magazine.
KIYOMI McMILLER
Basketball, Rutgers
The former five-star recruit, who captivated social media followers with her silky playmaking as a teenager, became the first high school player to sign with the prestigious Jordan Brand. She has worn the sneakers that hoops legend Michael Jordan made famous at Rutgers — an Adidas school — while averaging 17 points in her first five games. “You are your brand,” McMiller said. “How you put yourself out there, that’s who you are, and that’s what people think about you.”
Steve Politi may be reached at [email protected].
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