FDU basketball walk-on player gets $25,000 NIL deal at NCAA Final Four

2 minute read

Jerry Carino

NorthJersey.com

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.



APRIL 15, 2015

SIMON SAYS, MONTVERDE

Troy Simons understands that he could be a cautionary tale, after attending four high schools in as many years. 

Now a fifth-year senior at University Prep, Simons knows that playing a post-graduate year at Montverde (Fla.) Academy, near Orlando, could change his life. 

“I'm excited to have a post-grad year,” Simons said, “so I can play basketball, do what I love and get into college.”

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