In a groundbreaking legal move that has sent shockwaves through the college sports world, a group of former Florida State Seminoles basketball players have taken their legendary coach, Leonard Hamilton, to court over unpaid promises of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation totaling a staggering $1.5 million.
The lawsuit, filed in Leon County circuit court in Florida, involves six former Seminoles – Darin Green Jr., Josh Nickleberry, Primo Spears, Cam’Ron Fletcher, De’Ante Green, and Jalen Warley. They allege that Hamilton pledged $250,000 in NIL payments to each player through supposed “business partners.”
Despite public assurances made by Hamilton during team meetings and individual conversations with the players and their families, the lawsuit claims that the promised compensation was never received. Some players had even transferred to Florida State under the premise of receiving NIL benefits.
Text chains between players and Hamilton, as well as with an executive from one of Florida State’s NIL collectives named Will Cowen, are presented as evidence in the lawsuit. The legal battle escalated when several players reportedly walked out of a practice session before a crucial game against Duke due to frustration over unpaid funds. Allegedly planning to boycott the game until promised payments were made, they were later assured by Hamilton that their accounts would be credited promptly.
Despite these tumultuous events affecting team dynamics on and off-court performance – culminating in a defeat against Duke – Florida State University expressed support for Coach Hamilton while hoping for a swift resolution to the matter.
This lawsuit underscores broader issues surrounding NIL compensation conflicts between athletes and programs. Similar disputes have emerged elsewhere in collegiate sports; for instance, UNLV’s quarterback abruptly left after an unfulfilled $100k deal promise while a former Florida Gators quarterback sued over an unpaid $13 million commitment.
Four of the plaintiffs have since transferred away from Florida State due to non-payment issues; two others are now ineligible for further collegiate play. The lawsuit highlights how every player on FSU’s 2023-24 men’s basketball roster relied on Hamilton’s commitments when making pivotal decisions about their academic and athletic futures.
As this legal battle unfolds amidst growing scrutiny over athlete rights and fair compensation practices within college sports institutions across America, it serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding student-athlete relationships and financial agreements within NCAA-regulated programs.
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