Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper react as Rutgers reunites with $114.91 billion-worth company
Rutgers freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey were buzzing soon after the Scarlet Knights announced a new apparel deal on Tuesday. From July 1, the university will reunite with Nike, which will exclusively outfit all of its 24 athletic programs. The deal will last five years, with a fifth-year extension also available, and has an estimated value of $30 million, according to Sports Business Journal.
The Scarlet Knights previously teamed with Nike in 2012, with the $114.91 billion apparel giant being their partner for five years before the Scarlet Knights switched to Adidas in July 2017.
Soon after Rutgers made the announcement on their website, the men's basketball program on Instagram shared some of their former stars who donned the Scarlet Knights' red uniforms made by Nike. The players featured in the post were Corey Sanders, Kadeem Jack, Myles Mack, Mike Williams and Quincy Douby.
Harper and Bailey, who are in the last Rutgers freshman class to sport Adidas gear for the near future, flocked to the post to share their reactions to the Scarlet Knights' new deal with Nike. Instead of using words, they used a set of emoticons that best described their excitement for the future.
Harper and Bailey's excitement for Rutgers' new deal with Nike should come as no surprise to the college basketball world, given that both teenagers signed NIL deals with the shoe and apparel giant last month. Harper also signed a major NIL deal with energy drink brand Red Bull, taking his NIL valuation to $1.6 million, according to On3.
Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey make strong starts to their college basketball careers
Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey have emerged as key figures for Rutgers, starting each game they have appeared in for the Scarlet Knights (7-4).
Across Rutgers' 11 games, Harper has averaged 23.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists, displaying why he was the only freshman to make the Preseason All-Big Ten Team ahead of this season.
Although Bailey missed the Scarlet Knights' opening two games, he has still posted superb numbers in his first season of college basketball. He has averaged 17.9 ppg and 7.1 rpg, helping them win five of the nine games he played in.