Hoop Dream: Puma Signs High School Star Mikey Williams To Multi-Year NIL Alliance
Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 04:06PM By Barry Janoff
October 28, 2021: Puma confirmed today that it has signed Mikey Williams, a 6’3”, 17-year-old five-star recruit to a multi-year NIL deal.
He attends Lake Norman Christian School, Huntersville, NC, but plays for Vertical Academy, Charlotte, a team founded by his father, Mahlon Williams.
Financial terms were not revealed.
“Welcome, Mikey Williams,” the Puma offers on its Web site.
“Excited to join the Puma Family,” he posted to his social media platforms.
Williams, who was born in San Diego, has more than three million followers on Instagram and some five million followers on social media overall.
Puma will feature Williams in multi-media marketing, with a focus on social media.
He is represented by Excel Sports Management.
“Mikey joining our Puma family is exciting news for our brand,” Adam Petrick, Puma global director of branding and marketing, said via the company.
“His talent and his ability to connect with young athletes and fans will help propel the culture of hoops forward and inspire the next generation of athletes. He has a bright future ahead of him and we are proud to be a part of his journey.”
Analysts say this would lead to other deals that tap into his social media status, including such categories as music, electronics and trading cards.
Puma unveiled its first spot with Williams, a promo on social media, “Not Yet Rated.”
The spot — “From the Studios Of Puma Hoops Productions, starring Mikey Williams” — shows Williams in action during various games.
Williams is also featured on the home page of Puma’s retail Web site.
"The NIL rules provide a new opportunity for someone like me who has put in so much energy and effort into building a community," Williams told ESPN in a statement.
"I am excited to be the first high school athlete to make this move. I love to hoop and I love engaging with my fans and look forward to continuing to share my journey with everyone."
Williams won’t be eligible for the NBA Draft until 2024.
Puma’s basketball roster also include LaMelo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, WNBA star Skylar Diggins-Smith, former NBA and college star Ralph Sampson and Hall of Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier.
Vertical Academy is not affiliated with any sanctioned high school state athletic association. This season, it plans to play a 25-game schedule in 19 states against prep schools and similar academies.
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