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As if we needed more proof that college sports are completely out of control, now we have top-five 2025 college basketball recruit Nate Ament using NIL crowdfunding site Fanstake to help choose which college he will attend. Basically, he is auctioning off his college decision to fans of various basketball programs.
Nate Ament, 18, announced on Wednesday that he has narrowed down his college choices to Alabama, Arkansas, BYU, Duke, Georgetown, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Texas. Now, fans of these basketball programs can “stake” NIL money to the college that they would like to see Ament attend.
Once Ament makes his decision, he gets 90 percent of the NIL money that was “staked” to that school. The other 10 percent is split between his teammates and Fanstake.
Nate Ament is also getting equity in Fanstake as part of the deal. The company previously announced University of Colorado commit JuJu Lewis had also received equity in the company.
“I’m proud to partner with Fanstake,” Ament said about the deal. “This platform gives fans a unique way to be part of the recruiting process, which is pretty cool. I’m still weighing my options for where I’ll play, and there’s a lot to consider, but it’s exciting to see how fans can get involved in helping me find the right fit.”
Now, Ament doesn’t have to choose the college that receives the most NIL pledge money, but it certainly could sway his decision. For the schools that he doesn’t choose, Fanstake says those who pledged NIL money to those colleges for Ament will have their money credited back to them.
“The NIL landscape is changing, and fans now have the chance to directly influence where top athletes like Nate Ament decide to play,” Greg Glass, CEO and Co-Founder of Fanstake said in a statement. “This is the future of college sports — fans actively participating in the recruitment process, helping teams stay competitive, and ensuring athletes understand their true market value. With Nate still uncommitted, now’s the perfect time for fans to stake their claims and help shape his decision.”
“Partnering with Fanstake to represent a generational talent like Nate Ament is a true testament to the power of equity in sports — providing young athletes the opportunity to realize their full potential and change the game for future generations,” said Ament’s agent, Derek Malloy.