The NCAA is fully embracing the NIL era, that’s revolutionizing college sports. NIL is enabling more and more athletes to tap into substantial deals and unimaginable contract amounts. However, this week underscores how unpredictable the landscape is – with a sudden rise and sharp decline shaping the market. While some athletes are facing setbacks, others are thriving. Reasons? Unclear.

Here’s a closer look at the key movements in valuations.

Hunter Dickinson’s NIL value takes a hit 

Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson faced a $245K drop in his NIL valuation, falling from a solid $2 million to $1.7 million. The decline comes amid Kansas’s recent struggles, though Dickinson’s standout performance, earning him Big 12 Player of the Week honors, suggests a rebound may be on the horizon.

Despite this, the drop in his NIL valuation has raised eyebrows. While this time reason doesn’t seem very concrete, last month when his value soared, it marked a controversial moment. The Jayhawk entered the $2 million NIL club last month. It came after Kansas’s showdown against Duke on November 26.

Dickinson’s ejection during Kansas’s high-profile Duke matchup in November drew significant attention, briefly boosting his NIL valuation. However, his recent decline indicates that controversy alone cannot sustain value long-term.

However, it seems the recent drop is not directly tied to his performance. But he isn’t alone. Golden Eagles star Kameron Jones also slipped by $91K. Meanwhile, some other athletes have seen their NIL valuations rise.

Could Dylan Harper & Maxime Raynaud be the next big NIL stars?

Dylan Harper is shining brightly, both on the court and in the NIL world. His value just hit $1.8 million, and he’s up $163K, which is a 10% rise. Pretty impressive! This came after the Rutgers guard recently had a clutch moment, sinking a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to seal a 24-point performance in a 66-63 win over Seton Hall. 

That game showed his star power, and you know what? He’s becoming a real challenger to Cooper Flagg for that top spot in the 2025 NBA Draft. Harper may not be in the 2 million dollar million club like Flagg yet, but his NIL is looking solid, and the rise is definitely promising. 

His major deals with Nike and Red Bull are helping boost his profile even more. Then, there’s Maxime Raynaud, whose NIL value is also on the rise—currently sitting at $1.7 million, up a whopping $343K (a 26% rise!).

The guy is putting up some serious numbers, like his ninth double-double of the season in his latest game against Seton Hall, most in Division I. Raynaud has been building a strong NIL portfolio by partnering with local businesses, especially those focused on sports and youth engagement. 

Additionally, PJ Haggerty’s value rose by $359K, bringing his total value to $1.8 million. Just last month, he jumped by $805K, hitting $1.3M. As one of the new millionaires, he’s blazing through, averaging 21.9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, shooting 47.1%. But the real winner among all has to be the Tennessee Volunteers’ guard.

Chaz Lanier’s $1.8M NIL breakout: The underdog taking over the game

Chaz Lanier NIL valuation is now a hefty $1.8 million, as it rose by $375K (26%), making him one of the newest entries into the NIL 100. Sitting pretty at the 22nd spot overall and 3rd in college basketball NIL rankings, Chaz is proving that you don’t need massive social media clout to make it big. 

With just 548 followers across platforms, his rise justifies his on-court skills. Just two weeks ago, Lanier crossed the million-dollar mark. And now, he’s leaving notable names like UConn star Paige Bueckers ($1.4M) behind. And he’s closing in on players like Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner soon. 

Averaging 18.9 points, 3 rebounds, and shooting an impressive 45.4%, Lanier has been a standout on the court. No wonder he was one of the most highly-touted transfers this season. Although it looks like the senior guard’s value is only going to soar from now on, we can’t forget that every 10 weeks, it seems like the NIL shifts dramatically.

 And honestly, isn’t that part of what makes it so thrilling? It’s giving athletes from humble beginnings the platform to shine—like Chaz, who’s now a household name. But, on the other side, one big performance (or one slip-up), and it all changes. So, let’s see what’s next. And if you want to stay updated on every NIL hit and miss, Stick around!