Top 10 NIL valuations for 2026

PDX_Blue

Junior
Jun 29, 2025
83
249
33
Eso Si Que Es Max Greenfield GIF by CBS
 

BookofMormon

Senior
Mar 27, 2026
614
785
93
Yeah, this one wreaked of desperation. You wonder how that impacts a locker room. Got their guy, but let's see if he lives up to it. Anytime he throws a stinker up, are the teammates going to wonder why he got so much $$ and they didn't? It's big shoes to fill.

6 hoops to 4 FB.
 

Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
16,392
3,385
113
Disgusting that our program so desperate that we pay a guy more than anybody else football basketball a guy that’s a great shooter but limited on how he can get to the basket. Limited on his defense. Limited rebounder. And I see this Stokes down there 5 million. Yeah I guess Pope never offered him the six. I mean it’s ridiculous.

People are running around here. How great Pope is Pope so great had a great off-season.. hog wash he overpaid for Momi by about $2 million. It’s called panicking and then we have people here that think we can sign another player five $6 million player.. yeah could you imagine Kentucky with 2 players in the top 10 of Pay being paid?. even one is too much for the kind of results that Pope brings.

I don’t know who invested that maybe Tyler hero did I know he went to heroes talk to hero’s dad maybe he helped them get the money I don’t know, but it’s a bad look if we’re not in the final for paying that kind of money. This isn’t the first time Pope has done it last year. Everything was leaked.

We had to by far the highest payroll. I mean Pope’s getting third fourth fifth option guys paying more than anyone else in college.. I’m not opposed to paying guys but I wanna win not just take whoever we can get whoever is available and then pay them out the wazoo. That will create internal problems. I mean, if Malachi only got three let’s say that could be a problem any of those guys that return it does not pay to return to UK.. UK is gonna pay returners less than guys are trying to bring in
 

Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
16,392
3,385
113
Yeah, this one wreaked of desperation. You wonder how that impacts a locker room. Got their guy, but let's see if he lives up to it. Anytime he throws a stinker up, are the teammates going to wonder why he got so much $$ and they didn't? It's big shoes to fill.

6 hoops to 4 FB.
I’d like to see the numbers of the other players, especially Malachi. I think he’s in the three $4 million range.. He’s a loyal Kentuckian. . I said any other post is hard to keep guys it’s gonna be when Pope’s having to pay double to bring someone else in who may play the same spot. Or just in general has been loyal to the program. I mean, it’s likely why Colin Chandler left and basically why the entire team left.. I’m sure Pope didn’t want them but same time. I’ll pay them anybody that’s on his roster. They’re not getting paid.. They’re getting paid the standard. Some are getting paid less. Monucilovic is not a $6 million player. He’s 4 million tops.. but pope knows without him. He’s not even a contender for sweet 16.. now with him he has a team good enough to keep his job. Not to win any kind of titles sec or NCAA or compete for a final four. Just enough to get to a sweet 16.

Pope doesn’t know the assignment. He’s hanging on the job with his fingernails and I don’t know how he convinced anyone to invest that kind of money in that player. I mean that’s an embarrassment. If you think about it all of college sports this guys the highest paid right here at the top.. I hope our athletic Director if he ever makes it onto the job is paying attention. Because throwing enormous sums of money much more than many other schools, you better be making final fours. Constantly not losing 25 or 26 games and two seasons. This is Groundhog Day. Whether it’s Barney and his quarter century of stealing and corruption. Or whether it’s coaches that he’s hired who won’t leave even though they can’t meet the standard. I mean Pope. It’s gotta be the most tone, deaf man on face the Earth. He has to know Kentucky fans are not happy that Mark Fox sits on the sideline with him. It’s like death by 1000 cuts program is probably on 850th cut.
 
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Threedognight

Senior
May 26, 2026
361
558
93
I’d like to see the numbers of the other players, especially Malachi. I think he’s in the three $4 million range.. He’s a loyal Kentuckian. . I said any other post is hard to keep guys it’s gonna be when Pope’s having to pay double to bring someone else in who may play the same spot. Or just in general has been loyal to the program. I mean, it’s likely why Colin Chandler left and basically why the entire team left.. I’m sure Pope didn’t want them but same time. I’ll pay them anybody that’s on his roster. They’re not getting paid.. They’re getting paid the standard. Some are getting paid less. Monucilovic is not a $6 million player. He’s 4 million tops.. but pope knows without him. He’s not even a contender for sweet 16.. now with him he has a team good enough to keep his job. Not to win any kind of titles sec or NCAA or compete for a final four. Just enough to get to a sweet 16.

Pope doesn’t know the assignment. He’s hanging on the job with his fingernails and I don’t know how he convinced anyone to invest that kind of money in that player. I mean that’s an embarrassment. If you think about it all of college sports this guys the highest paid right here at the top.. I hope our athletic Director if he ever makes it onto the job is paying attention. Because throwing enormous sums of money much more than many other schools, you better be making final fours. Constantly not losing 25 or 26 games and two seasons. This is Groundhog Day. Whether it’s Barney and his quarter century of stealing and corruption. Or whether it’s coaches that he’s hired who won’t leave even though they can’t meet the standard. I mean Pope. It’s gotta be the most tone, deaf man on face the Earth. He has to know Kentucky fans are not happy that Mark Fox sits on the sideline with him. It’s like death by 1000 cuts program is probably on 850th cut.
Dude we are like 3 years in modern NIL for a fan to say a player is worth 4 million not 6 million maybe the dumbest thing I’ve heard. What do you know?
 

Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
16,392
3,385
113
Dude we are like 3 years in modern NIL for a fan to say a player is worth 4 million not 6 million maybe the dumbest thing I’ve heard. What do you know?
I know Momi isn’t worth it to be the second highest paid collegiate player in all sports. He’s good but he won’t be a first or second team AA. I’ve seen him play enough. No he’s not worth it. Pope is can’t land the first second third option likely whiffs the 4th. Our fanbase needs to wake up or maybe it is what it is now. A quarter to half engaged. I mean look at this forum look at how the engagement levels have plummeted amongst fans. Mark pope dumped a ton of money for Momi and it’s seriously questionable as it appears he is doing the minimum to keep his job. Sweet sixteen. Let’s say we lose 10 reg season games and get to a sweet sixteen game will you join me and demand a change? I don’t want high priced unless they are legit and make our team top 5-10. Legit FF contenders.
 
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Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
16,392
3,385
113
Again, they are posting numbers with no source or proof of accuracy. Who knows if any of it is correct. Until schools start reporting the real numbers for each individual it's all just he said she said speculation
The info is out there everywhere. Players, and agents they talk a lot and use this stuff for leverage to get the next guy paid.
 

UKFootball78

All-Conference
Sep 1, 2013
1,037
1,608
76
The info is out there everywhere. Players, and agents they talk a lot and use this stuff for leverage to get the next guy paid.
It's not information,it's misinformation put out by agents to help them generate more money on current and future clients...please tell me you are not dumb enough to believe otherwise
 

Threedognight

Senior
May 26, 2026
361
558
93
I know Momi isn’t worth it to be the second highest paid collegiate player in all sports. He’s good but he won’t be a first or second team AA. I’ve seen him play enough. No he’s not worth it. Pope is can’t land the first second third option likely whiffs the 4th. Our fanbase needs to wake up or maybe it is what it is now. A quarter to half engaged. I mean look at this forum look at how the engagement levels have plummeted amongst fans. Mark pope dumped a ton of money for Momi and it’s seriously questionable as it appears he is doing the minimum to keep his job. Sweet sixteen. Let’s say we lose 10 reg season games and get to a sweet sixteen game will you join me and demand a change? I don’t want high priced unless they are legit and make our team top 5-10. Legit FF contenders.
I mean I don’t think mom is the best player ever but does the layman (you and I) have the skills to evaluate how many millions they are worth? No

also 10 loses & sweet sixteen ain’t even bad but we will do better
 

Threedognight

Senior
May 26, 2026
361
558
93
I know there’s a grammatical error but yes over two seasons as I state he’s lost 25 games. Nice try editing. Seriously 3 dog night UgA fan or Auburn? I say denimvest
Lmao I was just being a ***hole I swear though please don’t accuse me of being a fan of another team I got banned for that last time
 
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NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
12,872
20,151
113
I do not have an issue with guys getting paid, but it's funny how quickly we went from "let them sign a few autographs for pocket money" to over $5 million deals.
They (the players) never had any intention in signing autographs for money.
 
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NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
12,872
20,151
113
Yeah, this one wreaked of desperation. You wonder how that impacts a locker room. Got their guy, but let's see if he lives up to it. Anytime he throws a stinker up, are the teammates going to wonder why he got so much $$ and they didn't? It's big shoes to fill.

6 hoops to 4 FB.
Tell Me More GIF by The Ops Authority | Natalie Gingrich
 
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Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,884
20,271
103
Dude we are like 3 years in modern NIL for a fan to say a player is worth 4 million not 6 million maybe the dumbest thing I’ve heard. What do you know?
There isn’t a college athlete in any sport worth 7 figures, let alone multiple 7 figures. This went from 0-100 way to fast and will probably only grow a few more years. Eventually the bubble will pop, not a chance this is a sustainable system.
 
Jul 6, 2025
2,483
6,921
113
Mom getting paid more than potentially 3 or 4 future NFL QBs (and likely a probowler or two), and also above maybe the best WR talent in 25 years, is just insane to me.

*edit: I understand there arent 4 QBs listed, but this means hes also getting paid more than Arch Manning, Sayin, Carr, etc.

It is insane. Nil is out of control but basketball nil is waaaaaaay out of control.
 
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One Bad Bird

Freshman
Nov 19, 2017
105
83
28
Considering every other pro athlete has a podcast, I am surprised that the under the table payments received prior to NIL are not a hot topic of discussion.
 

Threedognight

Senior
May 26, 2026
361
558
93
There isn’t a college athlete in any sport worth 7 figures, let alone multiple 7 figures. This went from 0-100 way to fast and will probably only grow a few more years. Eventually the bubble will pop, not a chance this is a sustainable system.
i agree to a extant. If Momcilovic Jersey sales were 2 million I think he deserves the other million ya feel me. They aren’t worth 5-6 million but 2-3 million probably yes
 

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
4,694
8,769
113
Disgusting that our program so desperate that we pay a guy more than anybody else football basketball a guy that’s a great shooter but limited on how he can get to the basket. Limited on his defense. Limited rebounder. And I see this Stokes down there 5 million. Yeah I guess Pope never offered him the six. I mean it’s ridiculous.

People are running around here. How great Pope is Pope so great had a great off-season.. hog wash he overpaid for Momi by about $2 million. It’s called panicking and then we have people here that think we can sign another player five $6 million player.. yeah could you imagine Kentucky with 2 players in the top 10 of Pay being paid?. even one is too much for the kind of results that Pope brings.

I don’t know who invested that maybe Tyler hero did I know he went to heroes talk to hero’s dad maybe he helped them get the money I don’t know, but it’s a bad look if we’re not in the final for paying that kind of money. This isn’t the first time Pope has done it last year. Everything was leaked.

We had to by far the highest payroll. I mean Pope’s getting third fourth fifth option guys paying more than anyone else in college.. I’m not opposed to paying guys but I wanna win not just take whoever we can get whoever is available and then pay them out the wazoo. That will create internal problems. I mean, if Malachi only got three let’s say that could be a problem any of those guys that return it does not pay to return to UK.. UK is gonna pay returners less than guys are trying to bring in
He didn't overpay for Momcilovic. He paid what it took to get him here. If he hadn't paid Momcilovic, you would have dogged him out like when we didn't sign Stokes. Bottom line is, we have a good team, but you are gonna rip Pope no matter what he does because you don't like him
 

Son_Of_Saul

Hall of Famer
Dec 7, 2007
45,723
101,054
113
I think I'm going to question these numbers because it's easier for me to pretend that UK is a poor state, incapable of playing with the big boys from a financial end. And what does the media know anyway? Norlander? Goodman? Roberts? Sure they have hundreds of sources amongst coaches and agents, but I'd rather follow the lead of people here on Rupp Rafters who "follow their gut."

That way, if/when we finish 4th through 9th place in the SEC, I can tell myself that it's because of parity and stuff and that this is no longer the 1990s. Or will it be because our location sucks and isn't as cool as Lawrence, Durham, Storrs, and Fayetteville? I mean, I can rotate those excuses depending on the argument. I just need to remember to never hold up the standard at Kentucky. Things have changed far too much in the NIL era, and there are no more dynasties (unless you're UConn).
 

PastorofMuppets82

All-Conference
Mar 4, 2025
572
1,270
93
It's just really difficult to trust these sights when they don't even agree with themselves.

On3 has Stokes listed currently at $5 Mil NIL Valuation.
Caleb Holt at $3.2 Mil NIL Valuation by comparison.

Both with a green check mark saying confidently that is what they signed for.

Multiple sites, insiders, people in the know said he signed a deal north of $7 Mil, so which is it for Stokes? Multiple sites, insiders, people in the know said UK was offering over $7 Mil for Stokes. Did he sign with Kansas for much, much less?

Same site shows we paid $6 Mil for Milan, $4 Mil for Zoom, and $2.2 Mil for Wilkins. (That's $12.2 Million already not counting Moreno or any of our Power Forwards, or bench).

But expect us to believe we couldn't afford the following guys were interested in:
Matt Able $3M from UNC
Paulius Marauskas $3M from Arizona St
Jalen Harralson $3M from Tennessee
Myles Bird $3M from Providence
Donnie Freeman $3.2 from St Johns
John Blackwell $4 Mil from Duke
Juke Harris $4 Mil from Tennessee

and the list for Top 40 basketball players stops at $2 Mil.

No Moreno
No Rob Wright (but we gave Zoom $4 Mil and Wright isn't even making $2 Mil)
No Colin Chandler
No former Cats who transferred out to other schools.
No incoming Freshmen other than Stokes and Holt.

Call me skeptical of people getting paid for hot takes, subscriptions, likes, and clicks.
 
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Anon846738

Redshirt
Jul 1, 2026
11
8
3
Kind of tough to argue without facts (payroll data), so it’s a good subject for an opinion board. All speculation with a big helping of nonsense.