By DYLAN LUTEY
Kentucky freshman Justin Edwards has become the first NIL athlete and first basketball player to sign with Rich Paul’s Klutch Athletics by New Balance brand.
Paul is the CEO of Klutch Sports Group, which is a well known sports agency based in California. He has worked with a lot of the top NBA players, most notably LeBron James.
In February he launched his own sportswear brand with New Balance and since then they have signed two NFL players: Will Anderson Jr. (Houston Texans) and Chase Young (San Francisco 49ers). On Monday, it was announced that Edwards will join the two NFL standouts.
“It means so much to me to join Klutch Athletics and be the first college athlete and first basketball player on the roster,” Edwards said. “I love the way the brand is blending performance with style, giving me something equally effective for training or relaxing. Joining Klutch Athletics and New Balance is such a unique opportunity, I can’t wait to get started!”
The 6-foot-7 forward who is projected by a lot of media outlets to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft is currently averaging 14 points on 52.4% shooting to go along with 6 rebounds during his first two games with the Wildcats.
He and his teammates will be in action against No. 1 Kansas on Tuesday at the Champions Classic with more than 75 NBA scouts on hand.
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