No Sweat: Giannis Joins Degree, March Madness Campaign To Celebrate ‘Walk-Ons’
Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 08:42PM By Barry Janoff
March 9, 2023: What do Giannis Antetokounmpo, Degree antiperspirant, March Madness and walk-on athletes have in common?
Degree — the “official deodorant of the NCAA, March Madness and Final Four” — said it is awarding five walk-on student-athletes NIL deals “with resources to put toward their education to keep playing the game they love.”
The brand has named four of the athletes, and has empowered Giannis and the public-at-large to help find the fifth athlete (details here).
Degree said it is “recognizing five exceptional walk-on student-athletes who are pushing through barriers to achieve the collegiate athletic experience of their dreams" through a multi-media "Walk On" campaign.
"We're committed to giving college athletes the opportunity to share their stories of adversity to help inspire others," Desi Okeke, brand director, Degree Deodorant, said via the offical NCAA partner Unilever company.
"The Degree Walk-On program is the epitome of that notion, and a testament to how the brand continues to take a more thoughtful and meaningful approach to partnerships with college athletes.”
Degree's four walk-on student-athletes include Spencer Hubbard (Men's Basketball, Duke), Andre Johnson Jr. (Men's Basketball, Connecticut), Ronnie Porter (Women's Basketball, Wisconsin) and Lauren Zwetzig (Women's Basketball, Notre Dame).
With two-time NBA MVP and NBA champion Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks at the lead, Degree said it would hold a nationwide search to find a fifth walk-on to join this Degree roster.
Current walk-ons and others can nominate individuals by sharing their story at the Degree Walk-On Web site, live today through March 19, 2023. Degree said the fifth walk-on would be revealed during the Men's Final Four weekend in Houston.
The five walk-ons will join 33 student-athletes who are part of Degree's Breaking Limits program.
Degree said each walk-on would receive a $25,000 NIL deal to “cover the average costs and living expenses for one year of college, so they can continue to play basketball without the stress of paying for education.
“Each student-athlete will also be set up with a professional mentor from Degree's parent company, Unilever, to guide them as they navigate their college years and post-graduation success.”
"For me, I always believed that the work is never done, and to be great in this sport you have to have focus and determination every day.,” Antetokounmpo said via Degree. “These four student athletes have overcome adversity and have an undeniable passion to continue playing the sport they love,
"As an official Degree 2023 partner for this year, I'm proud to kick off our partnership by finding and celebrating one more student-athlete who's inspiring the next generation with their story and journey to get where they are today as a walk-on student athlete.”
Degree said it has committed more than $5 million over the last five years to “inspire more people to move beyond their limits as part of its broader global Breaking Limits program.
“This program supports those who face the biggest barriers to being active — whether those barriers are due to race, sexual orientation, ability level, gender, age and more — and provides them access to coaches and mentors, along with safe spaces to move.
“The program is meant to support the brand's long-term commitment to help millions of young people transform their lives through the power of movement by 2030."
NCAA Corporate Champions include AT&T, Capital One and Coca-Cola.
NCAA Corporate Partners include Aflac, Buffalo Wild Wings, Buick, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Great Clips, Invesco, LG, Marriott Bonvoy, Nabisco, Nissan, Pizza Hut, Reese’s, Unilever and Wendy’s.
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