Hooper Sends Boxing Promoter on NIL Mission After Rutgers Breakup

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Kiyomi McMiller, who calls herself “The Product,” is in the women’s college basketball transfer portal after a frustrating season at Rutgers. The former McDonald’s All-American and five-star high school recruit is leaning on an advisor well-versed with marketing big personalities to determine her next destination.

Leonard Ellerbe helped boxing icon Floyd Mayweather Jr. make millions of dollars. He is looking to do the same for McMiller as an advisor—and he insists she should keep a high asking price as nearly two dozen programs, including Florida State and West Virginia, inquire about her services.

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The former CEO of Mayweather Promotions said McMiller will command an NIL package that rivals anyone in the transfer portal, which now also includes two-time All-American Olivia Miles.

“I know this for a fact, she will definitely have the biggest deal out there,” Ellerbe said in a phone interview. “She’s going to have one of the biggest, if not the biggest, deals out there. There’s no doubt about that.”

Ellerbe declined to specify a target number. His remarks come as several projected first-round draft picks have decided to stay in school, where they can potentially earn more money than they would as an WNBA rookie under an expiring collective bargaining agreement.

Despite McMiller’s rocky season at Rutgers, where she averaged 18.7 points a contest but was benched for two games, Ellerbe said her talent can enable her to ride the upward financial momentum in the sport.

McMiller, 18, isn’t draft eligible yet but represents a new wave of women college basketball stars who are testing their market value from the transfer portal and growing NIL opportunities.

“Anything Kiyomi does is going to be big,” said Ellerbe, who compares her work ethic to Mayweather. “She’s just excited about the opportunity to do what she does and entertain the fans. That’s a major part of sports and entertainment. Any of these schools would love to see their games packed with people who want to support their program, with people around the world tuning in. Kiyomi is must-see TV.”

McMiller made headlines in 2023 when she became the first high school athlete to sign with Jordan Brand. She chose Rutgers over Kentucky, LSU and others. But her freshman season didn’t quite go as planned—highlighted by off the court issues that may give some programs pause despite her talent.

The star guard was notably suspended from the Scarlet Knights’ highly anticipated matchup against JuJu Watkins and USC back in January. She broke the news prior to the game in a since-deleted Instagram post, making it known that the decision to sit her in the blowout loss belonged to Rutgers coach Coquese Washington. She also missed the following game against Minnesota.

At other times, McMiller showed why she was so highly recruited. The 5-foot-9 guard scored 30-plus points three times last season.

Money aside, Ellerbe said McMiller is looking for a place where she can win and has “freedom to be herself”—something, he said, she wasn’t able to do in New Brunswick, N.J., under Washington.

Last week, Washington told reporters that in a recent meeting with McMiller it became “very clear” that “the best thing for both sides is that we make a change in direction.”

“I wish her and her family nothing but the best,” Washington said.

McMiller and her executive team led by Ellerbe are reviewing offers after a season that included an All-Big Ten mention but also reports of a locker room altercation and mysterious game-time scratches.

“We don’t pay attention to the negative noise,” Ellerbe said. “We know who she is. … The [schools] that have been aggressive, we really appreciate them. They understand the potential of getting a generational talent like Kiyomi, because she instantly changes and uplifts any program. Instantly.”

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