Oumar Ballo (7'0" C) TO INDIANA

[JSHoosier]

Goodman said he heard from multiple coaches the asking price for Ballo was 1.2m.

[Hoosier2014]

11 minutes ago, JSHoosier said:

Goodman said he heard from multiple coaches the asking price for Ballo was 1.2m.

1.2m to get him away from IN. We got a discount at 1m unless we forked up some more with the Arkansas visit rumor (smart play by his agent if true).

[Golfman25]

14 hours ago, Lebowski said:

Isn't he in the states on a F-1 visa aka student visa? If that's the case, I am skeptical with the numbers being thrown because he can only earn from passive deals (i.e. Ballo gives EA Sports license to use his NIL) or active deals (things such as posting on social media,  appearing at an event, or signing an autograph) outside of the US. What kind of passive deal would he get for the numbers being thrown around? 

I would need to do more research on it, but isn't NIL by definition "passive."  I mean it's not like these guys are waiting tables or doing construction -- i.e.; taking us normal folks jobs.  I suppose there are a lot of regulatory weeds to walk around in to figure out how to play it.  

[Lebowski]

47 minutes ago, Golfman25 said:

I would need to do more research on it, but isn't NIL by definition "passive."  I mean it's not like these guys are waiting tables or doing construction -- i.e.; taking us normal folks jobs.  I suppose there are a lot of regulatory weeds to walk around in to figure out how to play it.  

Source:

Active NIL engagements require the labor of athletes. This can be any form of service or work by the athlete in the engagement—things such as posting on social media, appearing at an event, or signing an autograph. These NIL activations are the most common in the industry, as brands and collectives have increasingly turned student-athletes towards participation in the influencer economy.

Passive NIL engagements leverage the influence of the athlete without requiring any labor on the athlete’s end. The group licensing payments for the upcoming EA Sports NCAA Football video game can best illustrate this type of engagement. In exchange for financial considerations, student-athletes give EA Sports a license to use their name, image, likeness, voice, and jersey number in the game.  No labor comes from the student-athlete, and therefore, no violation of their student visa has occurred.



Based on that article I linked this is how I understand the differences between the two. I could be wrong though. 

Passive Examples:
You buy the athlete's jersey at Dicks because the athlete signed a licensed deal to allow it. You play the athlete on EA Sports College Football 25. 

Active Examples: 
So while the athlete isn't waiting tables per se he is signing the jersey you just bought at Dicks or posting an ad of him on the cover of EA Sports College Football 25 on his social media account, or running a summer camp during the offseason, or in a local commercial slinging a product, or is the guest speaker at a corporate event. 

So I think there are so much more opportunity for the athlete to maximize there worth/value with active engagements. Especially if they're able to combine the two together, like at a jersey signing or what have you. It allows the athlete to do the George Costanza and 'double dip' if that makes sense. 

[Golfman25]

2 hours ago, Lebowski said:

Source:

Active NIL engagements require the labor of athletes. This can be any form of service or work by the athlete in the engagement—things such as posting on social media, appearing at an event, or signing an autograph. These NIL activations are the most common in the industry, as brands and collectives have increasingly turned student-athletes towards participation in the influencer economy.

Passive NIL engagements leverage the influence of the athlete without requiring any labor on the athlete’s end. The group licensing payments for the upcoming EA Sports NCAA Football video game can best illustrate this type of engagement. In exchange for financial considerations, student-athletes give EA Sports a license to use their name, image, likeness, voice, and jersey number in the game.  No labor comes from the student-athlete, and therefore, no violation of their student visa has occurred.



Based on that article I linked this is how I understand the differences between the two. I could be wrong though. 

Passive Examples:
You buy the athlete's jersey at Dicks because the athlete signed a licensed deal to allow it. You play the athlete on EA Sports College Football 25. 

Active Examples: 
So while the athlete isn't waiting tables per se he is signing the jersey you just bought at Dicks or posting an ad of him on the cover of EA Sports College Football 25 on his social media account, or running a summer camp during the offseason, or in a local commercial slinging a product, or is the guest speaker at a corporate event. 

So I think there are so much more opportunity for the athlete to maximize there worth/value with active engagements. Especially if they're able to combine the two together, like at a jersey signing or what have you. It allows the athlete to do the George Costanza and 'double dip' if that makes sense. 

Yeah, but that really isn't what's happening.  Their "value" is based on their basketball skills and the coach's need, not their marketability.  There is no profit motive on the other side.   Actively, they aren't doing a whole lot -- maybe a "fan meet and greet" or something.  Couldn't the "collective" just put the guy's face on a billboard and say "Players Name support us, You should too."  Then give him is $1,000,000.  

I guess what I am saying, for the "friends of the program" collectives, it's a sham.  Not based on marketing value.  Unlike a local Dairy Queen paying Leal to show up for a "Chill" promotion.  Owner might pay Leal a few grand, thinking he'll bring in 3X that much business.  Probably pay TJD more, cause people love him more.  

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

[Scotty R]

28 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

I am sorry but looking at that list shows a lack big time talent in the league 

[PartyintheVillas]

26 minutes ago, Scotty R said:

I am sorry but looking at that list shows a lack big time talent in the league 

This is just the lazy journalist taking no risks and going with "top returners" plus the top transfer who was a P5 first team all-conference selection last year to get content out. Plenty of transfers and top freshman to choose from with more talent.

[Hoosierfanyuh]

8 minutes ago, PartyintheVillas said:

This is just the lazy journalist taking no risks and going with "top returners" plus the top transfer who was a P5 first team all-conference selection last year to get content out. Plenty of transfers and top freshman to choose from with more talent.

Youre right to a point, but the centers in the league excluding goldin and Ballo are pretty weak. 

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

He left out anyone from UCLA and Oregon, both of which can be top five teams in the league.

[Hoosier DaDa]

1 hour ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

First glancing at this list I thought WTH is Payton Sparks doing on it LOL.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

On3 reports he's joining the Miami Heat summer league roster.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Representing Mali.

[tyappleg]

[Jeff Flabjohns]

Sports betting is a scourge 

[Stuhoo]

12 hours ago, tyappleg said:

The indictment is still sealed until his initial appearance, but from media reports it appears to be Federal Wire Fraud/Mail Fraud charges out of Kriisa's one year at West Virginia.

To me, that impies that the victims of the fraud scheme are well-monied friends that he met along the way - hence it would be likely that Ballo is a potential victim and that Kriisa is a Matt Roth type defendant.

[HoosierHoopster]

1 hour ago, Jeff Flabjohns said:

Sports betting is a scourge 

It really is. Incredibly stupid decision to permit gambling on college games.

[Hoosierfanyuh]

17 hours ago, tyappleg said:

Not a real account 

[Stuhoo]

https://wvmetronews.com/2026/07/06/former-wvu-basketball-player-kerr-kriisa-charged-with-five-counts-of-wire-fraud-in-alleged-scheme-of-2-2-million/

Who had "scam in which he claimed he had to sell his organs" on thier bingo card?

Run of the mill fraud scheme - $2.2 million charged. 

Feels like a plea with a year and a day in the federal pen, unless he was a foot soldier in a larger scheme and he can work a cooperation agreement into a plea for home confinement.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

43 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

https://wvmetronews.com/2026/07/06/former-wvu-basketball-player-kerr-kriisa-charged-with-five-counts-of-wire-fraud-in-alleged-scheme-of-2-2-million/

Who had "scam in which he claimed he had to sell his organs" on thier bingo card?

Run of the mill fraud scheme - $2.2 million charged. 

Feels like a plea with a year and a day in the federal pen, unless he was a foot soldier in a larger scheme and he can work a cooperation agreement into a plea for home confinement.

Wild wild story.  He was set to play for La Familia this summer in TBT.