Kris Jenkins, renowned for his unforgettable buzzer-beating victory for Villanova during the 2016 college basketball championship, is pursuing legal action against the NCAA and six major conferences. He aims to recoup earnings he claims he lost due to restrictions that, at the time, prohibited athletes from profiting from their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
Jenkins is part of a group of approximately 350 current and former athletes who have opted out of a substantial $2.8 billion antitrust settlement with the NCAA, which is nearing final approval. Several individuals who opted out have initiated lawsuits on their own to claim income they believe they should have received.
It wasn’t until July 2021 that NCAA athletes were permitted to earn NIL income. The settlement, often referred to as the House settlement, proposes back pay for athletes going back to 2016. The compensation amount generally depends on the athlete’s sport and their level of participation. Jenkins, who was a key player for Villanova from 2013 to 2017, started 72 out of 76 games in his final two seasons, maintaining an impressive average of 13 points per game.
The lawsuit, filed by attorney Kevin T. Duffy Jr. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeks a jury trial and appropriate compensation for Jenkins, although the NCAA has refrained from commenting on ongoing litigation.
The legal action states Jenkins is owed a portion of the financial benefits linked to Villanova’s championship win that capitalized on his decisive shot. The lawsuit alleges that resulting from this success, the NCAA compensated the Big East Conference $19.1 million for distribution among its members. Additionally, Villanova’s athletic department received a record-breaking $22.6 million gift, generated $11.4 million in revenue, and financially supported its non-revenue sports.
Furthermore, after the team’s victory, alumni contributions spiked by 27%, and student enrollment saw an increase, as per the lawsuit. The public relations value of securing the championship was estimated at approximately $250 million, rising to around $1 billion when considering the broadcast value.
The suit also argues that due to the NCAA’s restrictions on athlete income, Jenkins was deprived of his fair share of broadcast revenue, media use of his NIL, and potential income from third-party NIL deals, including involvement in video games, commercial marketing, social media, branding, and endorsements.
The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and Southeastern Conference are included as defendants. The lawsuit describes their involvement alongside the NCAA in a “collusive restraint of trade and other law violations,” as detailed in the complaint.