In the world of men’s college basketball, it pays to be big. Literally.
When it comes to NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) earnings, centers and forwards dominate. They occupy the vast majority of the top spots in the overall ranking of earners in men’s basketball, with the market clearly dictating that elite frontcourt play is the premium asset in the 2025 landscape.
For comparison, the total NIL earnings for the top five big men now comes to $14.0 million. The top five guards bring in a combined $9.6 million—a difference of nearly $4.5 million at the elite level.
The Size Premium: Bigs vs. Guards (Top 5)
| Metric | Top 5 Big Men | Top 5 Guards | The "Size Premium" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Earnings | $14.0 Million | $9.6 Million | +$4.4M for Bigs |
| Average Valuation | $2.8 Million | $1.92 Million | +$880k / player |
| Highest Earner | $4.4M (AJ Dybansta) | $2.1M (Boogie Fland) | 2x Difference |
| $2M+ Earners | 5 Players | 3 Players | Frontcourt Dominated |
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Top Big Men NIL Earnings — 2025 Season
| Rank | Player | School | Position | Height | Est. NIL Earnings | Key Deals / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AJ Dybansta | BYU | Forward | 6'9" | $4.4M | Nike, Red Bull, Fanatics Collectibles |
| 2 | JT Toppin | Texas Tech | Power Forward | 6'7" | $3.3M | Massive retention deal to skip 2025 NBA Draft |
| 3 | Yaxel Lendeborg | Michigan | Power Forward | 6'9" | $2.3M | UAB transfer; Players Era MVP; huge collective deal |
| 4 | Great Osobor | Washington | Forward/Center | 6'8" | ~$2M | Highest-known transfer deal of the offseason |
| 5 | Jayden Quaintance | Kentucky | Center | 6'10" | $2M | PSD Underwear, Panini; transfer package |
| 6 | Caleb Wilson | UNC | Power Forward | 6'10" | $1.9M | New Balance, Rookie Wire |
| 7 | Cameron Boozer | Duke | Forward | 6'9" | $1.8M | Jordan Brand, Crocs, Leaf Trading Cards |
| 8 | Darrion Williams | NC State | Small Forward | 6'6" | $1.7M | Buffalo Wild Wings; NC State collective |
| 9 | Graham Ike | Gonzaga | Forward | 6'9" | $1M | Zags Collective |
| 10 | Chris Cenac Jr. | Houston | Forward | 6'10" | ~$1M | Rapidly rising valuation |
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1. AJ Dybansta, Brigham Young
He’s only a freshman and likely to fall into the one-and-done category, as he’s widely expected to be the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. That will net the 6-foot-9 forward a multi-year contract worth at least eight figures. But, for now, he’s doing quite well for an 18-year-old. Dybansta has the highest estimated NIL valuation of all college basketball players at $4.4 million.
He has multiple NIL deals with companies like Nike and Red Bull. He already is earning strong money from a deal with Fanatics Collectibles, part of a multi-year contract that will give him significant spending power on top of his future NBA contract.
2. JT Toppin, Texas Tech
At 6-7, Toppin is considered the top power forward in the nation. Through the first seven games of this season, he’s averaging 22.1 points and 11 rebounds. Toppin has a $3.3 million estimated NIL valuation, and he reportedly received major money from the Texas Tech collective to pass on the 2025 NBA Draft and remain in school.
3. Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
One of the biggest risers of the 2025 season, the 6-foot-9 forward transferred from UAB to Michigan and immediately secured a massive financial package. His valuation hit $2.3 million after a dominant showing at the Players Era Festival, where he took home MVP honors. He is averaging a double-double for a resurgent Wolverines squad, making him arguably the best “money-for-production” player on this list.
4. Great Osobor, Washington
Osobor made headlines in the offseason by signing what was reported as the largest known transfer deal in college basketball history at the time—approximately $2 million. The former Mountain West Player of the Year followed his coach, Danny Sprinkle, from Utah State to Washington. The 6-foot-8 forward is a unique point-forward hybrid whose massive valuation is fully guaranteed by Washington’s donor base to anchor their Big Ten debut.
5. Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
The 6-10 sophomore center injured his knee as a freshman and has yet to play this season. Kentucky officials have been coy about when he’ll be cleared to return. But even while he’s sidelined, Quaintance is still picking up $2 million in NIL money, made up mostly of the funds he received when transferring in from Arizona State, plus promotional deals with PSD Underwear and Panini America.
6. Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
After Dybansta, Wilson is the nation’s second-best freshman. In the early part of the season, the 6-10 power forward is averaging 19.3 points and 10.1 rebounds. His growing $1.9 million NIL valuation is boosted by UNC’s blue-blood brand strength and NIL deals with New Balance and Rookie Wire.
7. Cameron Boozer, Duke
Yet another freshman force in the frontcourt, Boozer plays for an historically elite program and is the son of former Duke and NBA star Carlos Boozer. He arrived at Duke with major expectations — and he’s been dominant so far, averaging 23.6 points per game. With deals from Crocs, Leaf Trading Cards, and Jordan Brand, Boozer holds an $1.8 millionNIL valuation.
8. Darrion Williams, NC State
This 6-6 small forward is on his third college stop after spending time at Nevada and Texas Tech. He picked up strong money from NC State’s collective when he transferred in, and he also has a deal with Buffalo Wild Wings. His estimated NIL valuation sits at $1.7 million.
9. Graham Ike, Gonzaga
A redshirt senior forward who spent two years at Wyoming before arriving at Gonzaga, Ike is averaging 15 points and nearly eight rebounds so far this season. Much of his estimated $1 million in NIL earnings comes from the Zags Collective, Gonzaga’s primary NIL collective.
10. Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
The fifth freshman on this list, Cenac has emerged as an important scorer and rebounder for one of the country’s most talented teams. His NIL valuation is about $1 million and is rising quickly.
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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