UConn's Jackson, Hawkins, Clingan to appear at Dick's Sporting Goods in Manchester
Apr. 6—Andre Jackson, Jordan Hawkins and Donovan Clingan of the national champion UConn men's basketball team will be making personal appearances starting Friday at Dick's Sporting Goods in Manchester.
The store is located at 1135 Tolland Turnpike in The Shoppes at Burr Corners.
Jackson will appear today from 6-7:30 p.m., Hawkins Saturday from 5-6:30 p.m. and Clingan Monday from 6-7:30 p.m.
The Jackson appearance is sold out.
The procedure is the same for the Hawkins and Clingan appearancew. The players will sign complimentary player cards or items purchased in-store that day. Two hundred wristbands will be distributed at the store on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 9 a.m. the day of the appearance. Wristbands are required to attend the event.
The players appear to be capitalizing on new rules that allow athletes to be compensated for name, image, and likeness. Hawkins appears headed for the NBA while Jackson's status is unclear. Clingan, a freshman who boosted his NBA stock during the NCAA Tournament, is expected to return next season.
Some NIL deals are reportedly in the eight-figure range. At UConn, women's basketball players Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd have cashed in on such deals. Bueckers NIL valuation is $824,000, according to On3.com, after Bueckers signed deals with Gatorade, Crocs, Bose and Nerf.
