Armando Bacot is one of the newest members of the Utah Jazz organization, but his five-year career at North Carolina will live on forever in the record books. Currently, it’s living on his in checkbook, too.
During his time in Chapel Hill, Bacot worked alongside notable companies like Intuit TurboTax, Topps and Wingstop, among several others. Now that he’s out of college, Bacot decided to peel back the curtain on what NIL looks like for a top talent at a destination school.
“$2 million plus — but I’m saying that humbly, though,” Bacot told Theo Pinson and AJ Richardson on the Run Your Race podcast. “But that speaks on a brand of Carolina because if I didn’t go to Carolina, doing deals with Turbo Tax all those people, I go to Carolina so I’m able to.
“Like when you go to Carolina, like recruits, everything, you go to Carolina and you handle business, you go out there and play, somewhat be marketable and stuff like that. It pays.I can never say a bad word about Carolina everything because I’ve got life-changing money just in college playing basketball. Life-changing money. I’m forever thankful Carolina brand because to be able to make over $2 million, just in college. It’s crazy.”
Bacot certainly did take care of business on the court during his time with the Tar Heels. He finished his five-year career averaging 13.9 points and 10.1 rebounds. As a super senior, he helped lead the Tar Heels to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but ultimately came up short.
During his final game in Carolina blue, Bacot made history during UNC’s Sweet 16 loss to Alabama. With a 19-point, 12-rebound effort, Bacot recorded his 87th career double-double during his five-year career. That moved him into a tie in first place in ACC history with former Wake Forest legend Tim Duncan, and second in NCAA history.
He’ll now have to put his record-setting collegiate career behind him as he tries to make the Utah Jazz’s roster after going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft. At 24 years old, he’s the same age as Ja Morant, Tyrese Haliburton and is older than Zion Williamson, which likely hindered some teams from acquiring his services on draft night.
Bacot will be able to test his talents early this summers, as the Jazz are hosting the 2024 Salt Lake City Summer League from July 8-10. He’ll make his summer league debut against the Memphis Grizzlies on the opening day of the tournament.
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