LOOK: Walker Kessler lands 90s-era NIL deal with classic snack company
Auburn center Walker Kessler delivered a wave of nostalgia for many when he posted an NIL deal with Dunkaroos via Twitter on Tuesday. The classic cookies-and-frosting dipping snack, which originated in 1990, was discontinued in 2012 but made a comeback in 2020.
Now they have made another big splash by partnering with one of college basketball’s premier players.
“Vibe Check! Who remembers this go to 90’s snack?” Walker Kessler wrote in a Tweet announcing the NIL deal. “The classic snack is in the dunk business now and guess who gets to help them pave the way? You guessed it… ME. So honored to say I am officially on the All-Dunkaroos team.”
A sophomore for the Tigers this past season, Kessler was one of their most premier post players with 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He helped them earn a two seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the second round to Miami. This was his first season at Auburn after transferring from North Carolina, where he put up 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds across just 8.8 minutes per game as a freshman.
Kessler was the No. 4 center in the class of 2020 according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He chose to player for the Tar Heels over offers from Duke, Gonzaga, Memphis and others.
Dunkaroos and their cartoon Kangaroo mascot enjoyed mass popularity throughout the 1990s. The original flavor was vanilla cookies and frosting with rainbow sprinkles. They also have a version with chocolate cookies and one with strawberry frosting. They have since expanded to include other products such as a version that replaces the frosting with yogurt, and even a Dunkaroos cereal.
Although ESPN’s most recent NBA mock draft had Kessler going 24th overall, he has not yet made a decision on whether he will go pro or return to Auburn. Regardless of whether he returns, it’s clear he has a bright future ahead of himself.