Hes technically the head coach at Overtime, but the leagues players are split up into three teams of nine players that are each led by hyper-qualified associate head coaches: Dave Leitao, who won coach of the year awards in Conference USA (2004 at DePaul) and ACC (2007 at Virginia); Tim Fanning, former NBL head coach and longtime assistant for Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel-Aviv Basketball Club; Ryan Gomes, a former All-American at Providence who played eight seasons in the NBA and coached in the G League. In honor of Black Music Month, REVOLT caught up with Mr. Eazi and DJ Edu to discuss their new project, its focus on the Amapiano genre. Theres a long-term value, but even right now, theres a coolness factor to repping that dope, 16-year-old star, says Weiner, reminding us that the co-founder of a business valued at $250 million is only 29 years old. If the NBA drops its one-and-done rule, as it is expected to in its next collective bargaining agreement, he might have the option of going straight to the league. To be fair, the work has just begun here at Overtime Elite. Or into recruits living rooms. Its only when we start talking about basketball that theyre like, Oh, how sad, they just dropped out. I can assure you that our young men have not.. Would you want to play in the new league or do you think a college basketball experience is more valuable? The concept of amateur athletes being paid has advanced greatly in the last calendar year. He and Brandon Williams made two trips to meet with us and explain everything to us, and it really felt like an opportunity for them to develop at a new level.. Will you be watching and cheering it this year? You can buy every Overtime Elite player's jersey on the league's . We've got to find another hustle.". To his point, PA announcers at OTE Arena sound more like theyre announcing a streetball game at Rucker Park. This is really an accelerator to being a pro, Ollie says. Since the 2006 draft, players have not been able to go directly to the N.B.A. Maybe not every single one of them, but the large majority will become professionals.. OTE's success in recruiting "is all going to be contingent on the success of its first year," Ramasar says. As in, make one wrong turn and youll miss the science study group and step into the Atlanta branch of a global insurance company that shares the eighth floor with Overtime Academy. You want to be seen, so this feels like a huge step.. (Shea Kastriner / Overtime Elite), Kevin Ollie won a national championship at UConn but is now guiding the Overtime Elite program. We are genuine in really investing in hiring really serious and legitimate people to run every aspect of the company, Porter said. The dean of athlete experience, Damien Wilkins, son of Gerald and nephew of Dominique, played 10 seasons in the NBA. University of Missouri men's basketball coach Cuonzo Martin says he's all for options and that players should have the ability to make money off their NIL rights or choose an alternative league that pays them. For those that bring up lack of exposure as a reason that blue chip college programs may seem more attractive to young hoopers, OTEs new social media accounts have already garnered 3.1 million views since the opening weekend. We always chose their schools and their AAU programs based on what would provide the most structure and the toughest challenge. Nelson is Giannis Antetokounmpos business manager. History Overtime launched the Overtime Elite professional basketball league in 2021 for American and international basketball players between the ages of 16-20. Tristan Jass, a pint-sized Internet creation who amassed 3 million YouTube subscribers by doing trick layups, had the best seat in the house for that first game. They were on their phones watching other kids do cool things. In addition to customized education, the players are paid a guaranteed salary of at least $100,000. Six figures, minimum, every last one of them. The not knowing has my fear and my antennae up about them.". Overtime Elite, the brainchild of Overtime, is a distributed sports network and brand founded in 2016 by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner. Who knows? But there are almost as many risks as there are benefits for the young athletes. But by the time that smoke machine cranks up, all anyone can talk about is how damn cool everything looks under the bright, colorful, strobing system of tungsten-heated LED lights that until now had only been used in two other arenas in the world: Staples Center in L.A. and Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Overtime Elite recruits athletes to start in their junior or senior years, or immediately after high school. Bryson Warren, 17, is a professional high school basketball player at Overtime Elite, a U.S.-based basketball league that recruits some of the best players around the world between the ages of 16 . The new league, Overtime Elite, most resembles soccer academies in Europe and elsewhere. It helped, of course, that these players got paid. One of his sons, Amen, got cold feet. Do you think Overtime Elite is a needed career pathway for young stars given the current N.C.A.A. Students 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. Additionally, each player is assigned a mentor to meet with weekly to go over their progress and set goals for the week to come. But were also talking about pro habits, holistic, about the holistic athlete. In pursuit of NBA dream, top N.J. recruit Naas Cunningham is on the Then we watched it grow. But for anyone over 30, thats probably because you arent the target audience for any of this. These youthful hoopers can still make money off of their fame, likeness, and reputation. This is where Tim Fuller takes a bow. For us, theres three main ways for us to monetize that IP.. Theres been a ton of collabs between the R&B and the hip hop world.. said Breland. They worried a little bit: Are they going to get any more players? Powered by Overtime. It was during this time that Ryan says they discovered there was a chance to provide better access to skill development, a path to professional sports, and all of the things that go into that experience. They leave behind a traditional school to use their gift, and we just assume theyll have private tutors and still get an education if were talking about golf or tennis or dance, right? They are also paid bonuses and shares of equity in Overtime. A sold-out crowd goes wild. Founded in 2021, Overtime Elite - often called OTE - functions as an accredited private high school, basketball league and media conglomerate. These guys are in high school doing pro things, on and off the court, thinking about pro things. I dont begrudge anybody. "I wasn't aware when he touched a million. Top NBA Prospects in Overtime Elite right now - ClutchPoints Why or why not? He has the deepest respect for Coach K, his most consistent threat in recruiting the last decade, after all. But theyre also taking a life skills class with lessons tailored specifically to the needs of a professional athlete: financial literacy, social media training, advocacy in sports, mental health and wellness, and all things connected to the business of basketball. A few years ago, Mahlon Williams realized his preteen son, Mikey, was famous, and he couldn't understand how it had happened. Founded in 2021, Overtime Elite - often called OTE - functions as an accredited private high school, basketball league and media conglomerate. For now, the vast majority of players still opt for college. But its only crazy until you do it, right? For Black History Month and beyond, we honor Tina Turner, our shining star who never allowed the ways of the world to dim her light. Its absolutely audacious. Thats apparent at every turn. Backed by former NBA commissioner David Stern and $2.5 million in seed funding, Overtime set out to create an app that allowed users to share highlights they captured, primarily of high school . On cue, Calipari goes on about how good a man Ollie is. However, the seed has been planted so subconsciously, they will have this foundation to draw upon as they journey through life and Ryan understands this. What is Overtime Elite? Theyre socially conscious, theyre political, theyre outspoken and theyre taking the power of their platform back, he explains later. If we couldve shown them this, I think recruiting wouldve been a lot easier. "It's a matter of taking that chance. Check them out below. In honor of Black Music Month, REVOLT caught up with Mr. Eazi and DJ Edu to discuss their new project, its focus on the Amapiano genre, Afrobeats, and much more. In the big picture, that is the most lucrative opportunity, but OTE has been deliberate about not shopping for a TV deal immediately. In addition to the NBA and professional influence in the day-to-day operations, there is a presence at the executive level as well. Until you consider that everything about the place, and especially the expensive lighting that makes photos and videos really pop, was designed with Overtimes combined social media audience of more than 50 million in mind. Youre wondering if its really going to work, Fuller says. Report: Overtime Elite Athletes Now Eligible To Play In NCAA And AAU The musical collective paid homage to iconic Black artists by reimagining beloved R&B classics. With the kids that come here, why they come here, this thing is about work. "It's really a partnership, and that partnership needs to be balanced a little bit more than it is now.". Students, read the entire article, then tell us: Whats your reaction to the new league? Thats music to the ears of college athletes, but lets take it a step further. Whether its fear (or annoyance) over this new drain on a limited talent supply or genuine concern for the players whove chosen an alternate path, nobody is more suspicious of Overtime Elite than college basketball coaches. Overtime announced in April it had raised $80 million in its latest round of fundraising from investors, including Jeff Bezos, Drake and 25 current and former NBA players. Players receive a minimum salary of $100,000 annually, a signing bonus, and shares in Overtime's larger business. In May, Overtime signed Matt and Ryan Bewley, twin brothers in Florida who are rising high school juniors, to two-year deals reportedly worth at least $1 million apiece. Not to mention a handful of top international teenagers, including guard Jean Montero, a projected first-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Well, this is something else. Incredibly, seven five-star recruits from the 2022 and 2023 recruiting classes signed up: 6-foot-9 twins Matt and Ryan Bewley, 6-foot-6 twins Ausar and Amen Thompson, 6-10 juniors Jalen Lewis and Tyler Smith, and 6-1 point guard Jazian Gortman. Its different. star Carmelo Anthony, an Overtime investor and member of its board of directors, says that the new league is not trying to disrupt N.C.A.A. rules, prohibiting college athletes from receiving compensation beyond attendance costs and preventing high school students from going directly to the N.B.A. Maybe both. Overtime Elite pro basketball league launching in September, will Right. ", So far, OTE has signed seven players, starting with two sets of five-star American twins, Matt and Ryan Bewley, and Amen and Ausar Thompson. Previously, he covered Virginia Tech football for seven years at The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot. The catalyst is social media, which has turned highlights into a commodity and given young players a power that previous generations couldn't have imagined. Sean Paul spoke about his love for dancehall and reggae, friendship with Beenie Man and much more. They have been on the national AAU circuit for years, and last year, when it looked like all California winter sports might be canceled, Mikey transferred from his San Diego high school to North Carolina. Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021. In this exclusive interview, Taylor Rooks chats about women taking up space in male-dominated industries. I actually think a lot of people think that, right? His sons were among the first to take the leap. Its like this for every key position in the operation, from OTE commissioner Aaron Ryan, who has an MBA from Cornell and years of experience as an executive at the NBA and USA Basketball, to the head of academics, Maisha Riddlesprigger, a former D.C. Public Schools Principal of the Year. As for wholl watch and why theres not yet a television deal, this is where the folks at Overtime believe traditionalists have fallen asleep at the wheel. Try a week on us. "This is coming from an African-American coach who coaches basketball: I don't want our athletes to be confused and chase fast money. In March of 2021, Overtime announced its new league to give elite basketball players an alternative to simply skipping college to train at home or internationally. Youre slumped over, he says. The duo symbolizes the transformative potential of Overtime Elite, which offers young athletes a new path to maximize their earning potential outside of the NCAA and propel them to professional stardom. The shots are always vague enough he can swear later that were putting words in his mouth. Then the G League and NBL stepped in to fill the gap for high school graduates who want to skip college and get paid to play for a year before theyre eligible for the NBA Draft. "Then it becomes a herd mentality. Did we get it right or wrong? Two days later, rapper 2 Chainz will give nodding approval and a one-word review from his front-row seat: Futuristic.. The same math, English, science and social studies classes any typical Georgia high schooler must complete, so do these guys. There are exciting possibilities.. But first we had to show them our experience and our credibility.. OTE Player Contracts, Salaries, and Transactions - Spotrac.com I think that this is a really powerful moment in time and not just young athletes, but all men; all men with the ability to learn about their feelings. Lewis is surely comforted by his two-year deal worth more than $1 million, per sources. I just jumped in without a life jacket, says the former UConn head coach. At the age of 17, Bryson Warren earns at least $100,000 a year as a high school student-athlete through Overtime Elite, a New York-based company that recruits outstanding teenage basketball. I dont want to mess around with kids lives. Overtime Elite, the company that has earned intrigue by launching a basketball league from scratch last year and shocking the sport's ecosystem by signing and paying highly ranked high school. 2 basketball prospect in ESPN's Class of 2023, is signing with Overtime Elite. All games are . basketball tournament. Nobody saw us coming. On this day, Rob Nelson, CEO of a financial advising firm, is lecturing the players on why its important to have a team off the court, covering the responsibilities of an agent, business manager, etc. No one has ever tried anything quite like this before. For decades, the N.C.A.A.s rules on amateurism, now under challenge in courts and in state legislatures, have held back a swell of money from flooding toward young elite athletes. The latter will likely be the most useful to NBA scouts for evaluation, as coaches conducted a draft to evenly distribute their best players across the three in-house squads. Ultimately what were creating here is intellectual property. There is a moral obligation that goes with that.. He takes similarly veiled digs at other recruiting rivals so perhaps this is a nod of respect. We've got to make sure that we're not making decisions based on one aspect of life that's going to run out. Revenue will come from advertising, sponsorship deals and merchandising, all driven by online content. We had kids tell us they worked their whole life for that, to be part of that fraternity. He could accept one of numerous college scholarship offers -- his father says he is leaning toward a historically Black school -- or he could start earning money as a professional, right now.