The current records of SEC men’s basketball teams don’t quite line up in financial order.
Kentucky, the conference leader in Name, Image and Likeness compensation, has gotten off to a slower-than-expected start. Although conference play has yet to begin, the Wildcats are 6–4 overall. All four losses have come against ranked teams (Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina and Gonzaga). Kentucky entered the season ranked No. 9 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls.
The Wildcats have since fallen out of the top 25. They haven’t beaten a ranked team, and their wins have come against the likes of Valparaiso, Eastern Illinois, Loyola Maryland, Tennessee Tech and North Carolina Central. The slow start is more than a little surprising given Kentucky’s financial advantage, as the current roster is reportedly earning a combined $22 million in NIL compensation—more than any other team in the SEC.
Here’s a look at the NIL deals of the top 10 NIL earners in the SEC:
JAYDEN QUAINTANCE, KENTUCKY
Great things are still expected from the 6-foot-10 power forward. They just haven’t happened yet, largely because Quaintance has yet to suit up in a Kentucky uniform. He’s still recovering from a torn ACL suffered while playing for Arizona State in February. A firm return date hasn’t been set, but Kentucky officials are optimistic it will come sometime around the start of conference play in early January. Quaintance’s $2 million NIL valuation is the highest in the SEC, with most of that money coming from Kentucky’s collective when he decided to transfer to Lexington. Nobody is writing Quaintance off as a disappointment. The prevailing feeling among Kentucky fans is that everything will be fine once he’s in the lineup.
DENZEL ABERDEEN, KENTUCKY
The Wildcats have gotten solid early-season production from another transfer who arrived in Lexington with high expectations. Aberdeen is averaging 12.4 points per game after playing at Florida the last three seasons. He reportedly received an NIL deal of about $2 million to transfer to Kentucky.
NATE AMENT, TENNESSEE
The Volunteers are 7–3 and ranked No. 20, and Ament has been a big part of that success. A freshman forward, Ament is averaging 16.3 points and 7.1 rebounds in the early going. Even before picking up significant NIL money from Tennessee’s collective, Ament was already earning major compensation. While still in high school in 2024, he signed a multi-year deal with Reebok, becoming the first high school basketball player to sign with the brand.
LaBARON PHILON, ALABAMA
Football players aren’t the only athletes earning major NIL money in Tuscaloosa. Yea Alabama, one of the school’s collectives, provided late financial support to convince Philon not to enter the NBA Draft last summer. The decision has paid off. Alabama is 7–2 and ranked No. 12, with Philon averaging 21.4 points per game.
DARIUS ACUFF, ARKANSAS
Coming out of IMG Academy last spring, Acuff was considered one of the top point guards in the Class of 2025. That helped him secure a significant NIL deal to attend Arkansas. He also has a deal with Reebok and carries an estimated NIL valuation of $1.1 million. Acuff has delivered early, averaging 17.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as the Razorbacks are 7–2 and ranked No. 17.
MEELEK THOMAS, ARKANSAS
Acuff isn’t the only freshman making an impact at Arkansas. His backcourt partner, Thomas, is averaging 16.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Like Acuff, Thomas received an NIL deal of about $1 million from the Arkansas collective.
BOOGIE FLAND, FLORIDA
One of the SEC’s top point guards, Fland transferred from Arkansas to Florida after receiving a reported $2 million in NIL compensation. He’s averaging 12 points per game for the defending national champions, who are off to a challenging 5–4 start against a demanding non-conference schedule.
THOMAS HAUGH, FLORIDA
The 6-foot-9 power forward was a role player on Florida’s national championship team last season but has emerged as a key contributor this year. Haugh is averaging 18.6 points and seven rebounds per game. His NIL valuation, which includes deals with the Ronald McDonald House of Central Florida and the North Central Florida YMCA, is approaching $1 million.
KEYSHAWN HALL, AUBURN
When Hall entered the transfer portal after last season, he drew interest from Kansas and several SEC programs. Auburn secured his commitment with a reported $2 million NIL deal. Hall has also been active on Opendorse, earning additional income through appearances and autograph signings.
Ja’KOBI GILLESPIE, TENNESSEE
Gillespie is on his third college stop after playing at Belmont and Maryland before transferring to Tennessee. The move has paid off, as he’s averaging 17.3 points and 5.4 assists per game. Gillespie may also receive additional NIL compensation through an unexpected avenue—he has filed a lawsuit against Maryland’s collective, Blueprint Sports, seeking $100,000 in unpaid funds.
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
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