New rules prevent UConn basketball star, Mali native Sanogo from profiting off his image

New rules mean players can cash in on their brand. It could be money for selling products largely through social media. But right now, it is still prohibited for international students.

News 12 Staff

Apr 1, 2023, 2:57 AM

Updated 551 days ago

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New college athletic rules are preventing University of Connecticut's men's basketball star Adama Sanogo from profiting off his image due to him being from Mali.
Sanogo is rising to super stardom, averaging 20 points a game during March Madness -- he is a big reason UConn is in the Final Four.
New rules mean players can cash in on their brand. It could be money for selling products largely through social media. But right now, it is still prohibited for international students.
The Patrick School is a place for teenagers with NBA dreams. It helped launch Sanogo to stardom.
Chris Chavannes was Sanogo's coach. He says Sanogo's humility comes as no surprise.
"The soft, gentle person that he is off the court is, as you can see, totally opposite on the court, like on the court, he's a beast," Chavannes says.
The Patrick School often works to draw international students.
Chavannes says the new rules are good, but clearly a work-in-progress.
"There's some cleaning up that needs to be done with it where it's more fair and equitable for everyone," Chavannes says.
Connecticut senators are pushing Homeland Security for ways to change this.
Some other college players have found loopholes.
One player on Kentucky scored a name, image and likeness deal while the team was playing a game in the Bahamas.