UConn's KK Arnold turns high school project into NIL deal with Black Fives Foundation

Back in 2020 when KK Arnold was a freshman at Germantown High School in Wisconsin, she did a project about the Black Fives Foundation. As part of the presentation, Arnold researched what the organization did to honor the history of African American basketball before the NBA signed its first Black players.

Four years later, Arnold – an impact player for the UConn women’s basketball team – signed an NIL deal with the foundation.

Arnold will serve as a Black Fives Foundation ambassador, allowing her to teach the younger generation about the history of African Americans in basketball at events and presentations. She sees it as a way to continue the research she did in high school.

The project was part of a history class, and Arnold naturally wanted to find a basketball-related topic. It led her to the Black Fives Foundation and founder Claude Johnson – who, at the time, didn’t realize she even played basketball. That’s where the relationship began, especially since Arnold went to the district regional competition for her work.

“As the research went on, I found Black Fives and I found out about this African American organization that started to introduce basketball to the African American side of things. … I really wanted to deep-dive into that research, and it all just left from there,” Arnold told On3. “I went to the finals for this project and everything. So, it all started from there, and I’m very grateful.”

KK Arnold balances NIL while starring at UConn

In the NIL space, Arnold also has a deal with one of UConn’s NIL collectives, Bleeding Blue For Good, as she puts together her portfolio. She noted NIL isn’t her main focus during her college career, though.

Her goal is to teach the next generation about the game.

That made the agreement with the Black Fives Foundation stand out.

“I’ve balanced [NIL and basketball] really well,” Arnold said. “I don’t really think about it too much. That’s not my main focus, which is something I really loved about this partnership with Black Fives is it’s more of an educational piece. So, it’s more part of my school piece and more of things that I can teach and really learn more about, as well, because I’m still learning and growing more about the Black Fives. That takes half and half of what I need to do off the court and what I need to do on the court.

“I have a good balance between them.”

In the future, Arnold said she hopes to lead youth basketball camps through NIL as she strives to give back and educate younger players about the game. She also had a message for those girl’s basketball players hoping to go on and play in college or in the WNBA.

“I’d definitely say that’s a big thing is giving back to the community … but also making sure I’m a bright light to the young female athletes out there and make sure they still love the game and everything,” Arnold said. “Teaching them there’s going to be some rough patches along the way but make sure you have fun.

“So definitely, my message along these four years is just creating a safe place for basketball and creating an open light and making sure they see me smile on the court and everything to make sure they fall in love with the same thing, as well.”

Paige Bueckers is a key mentor for KK Arnold

KK Arnold is in the midst of an impressive freshman season at UConn, leading the team with 70 steals while also adding 8.8 points and 3.16 assists. She has won the conference’s Freshman of the Week award four times and became the first Huskies player to do so since Paige Bueckers.

Of course, Bueckers is also in Arnold’s ear and helping navigate her first season of college basketball – both on and off the court. Their connection won’t stop at the end of this year, though. Bueckers announced she’ll be back for another season in 2024-25 and will not enter the WNBA Draft, giving UConn a big boost for next year.

Bueckers is also one of the highest-profile women’s basketball players with an On3 NIL Valuation of $652,000. Arnold said Bueckers and the other upperclassmen have played big roles in helping balance NIL and basketball – although their main focus, of course, is on the court.

“I asked [Bueckers] about a couple of things, but our main focus here – I mean, you can see it if you come around us – our main focus here is just basketball and worrying about that,” Arnold said. “Off the court stuff, we don’t really talk about it much. We really just try to stay engaged in the season and what we have to do for the next game and stuff like that.

“But definitely, if I ever have any questions on anything, I can definitely ask Paige or one of the upperclassmen, as well.”