The growth of NIL is expanding to 337 high schools as David Thibodaux boys basketball Kortlan Williams signs first ever brand deal.
The growth of name, image and likeness deals within sports has spread into high school in the 337 area as a David Thibodeaux boys basketball player signed the school’s first-ever NIL deal in school history.
Junior guard Kortlan Williams has signed on to become the first brand ambassador for Eyeconik Brand, a local clothing brand that focuses on celebrating the stories of individuals and communities within Lafayette Parish.
“I had been following the brand for a while and I really liked the positivity that the brand spread and I wanted to be apart of it,” Williams said. “I also wanted to express myself outside of basketball.”
More than a basketball player
On the court, the 6-foot-2 guard is known for his scoring ability as one of the Bulldogs’ consistent scorers, whether he’s driving to the basket or making opponents pay from farther out. As a sophomore last year, he helped his team finish with a 26-7 overall record and earned a LHSAA Select Division II playoff appearance.
Off the court, Williams is looking to make an impact on his community, hence why he put himself out there, reaching out to Eyeconik Brand founder Langston Faulk to see how he could get involved. Faulk, who’s cousins Kevin and Trev Faulk played in the NFL, wanted to start a brand that helped carve paths for the local youth whether they were stars on the field or off it.
Along with selling clothes, the brand focuses on mentorship and highlighting those overlooked gems within the community.
“The brand was an opportunity for me to give back, an opportunity for me to highlight and spotlight those individuals that sometimes forget their story is needed,” Faulk said. “Our gifts are the answer to someone else’s prayers and there’s a gift that Kortlan has obviously on the basketball court but also as a young man he has a gift as well. By him pushing towards his goals, I know there’s gonna be a blessing for someone else.”
Williams will be featuring Eyeconik Brands’ upcoming collection and will get to share his story as a hooper who is aiming to play at the college level. He will also get first-hand experience with running a clothing brand, another outside-of-basketball quest he’s looking to conquer.
“It’s super important to have stuff outside of basketball because I don’t want my legacy to be just a basketball player,” Williams said. “Or just a great high school basketball player that went to play in college. I want to leave a legacy of something else and how great of a person I was or the impact that I left. And I don’t want to wait till I’m at a certain social status or I make it to be a representative of my community.”
Shannon Belt covers high school sports, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and LSU men's basketball for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: More than hoops: David Thibodaux's Kortlan Williams signs NIL deal
Category: General Sports
