Panini Signs Exclusive NIL Deals with Six Top Basketball Recruits

McDonald’s All-Americans partner with global sports and entertainment collectibles brand

While men’s basketball fans await the Final Four this weekend, the country’s future star players will be on display at the McDonald’s All-American Game in Houston on Tuesday night.

Six top high school recruits taking part have signed exclusive trading cards and memorabilia NIL deals with Panini America, joining fellow class of 2024 standout Tre Johnson as brand ambassadors.

The six new Panini athletes include:   

Carter Bryant, University of Arizona commit

Zoom Diallo, University of Washington commit

VJ Edgecombe, Baylor University commit

Ian Jackson, University of North Carolina commit

Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn University commit

Jayden Quaintance, University of Kentucky commit

“We are excited to add these high performing athletes to the growing Panini family,” said Jason Howarth, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations. “Collaborating with this latest class of top basketball prospects emphasizes our commitment to celebrating young talent. We know fans will be excited to see their most memorable moments on Panini products throughout the next few years.”

To tip off March Madness, Panini announced an exclusive partnership with NCAA all-time leading scorer Caitlin Clark of Iowa. Additional NIL partners of the brand include Texas quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wide receiver Rome Odunze, Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton, USC wide receiver Zachariah Branch, Nebraska volleyball star Lexi Rodriguez. Two of the top high school quarterbacks in the country, Dylan Raiola now of Nebraska and Julian Sayin now of Ohio State both joined Panini as well.

The brand’s latest NIL partners will show out on ESPN during the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game at 9PM ET on Tuesday.