Oakland's Jack Gohlke releases apparel with NIL Store following Kentucky upset
On Thursday night, Oakland guard Jack Gohlke dropped 32 points on 10 3-pointers en route to dismantling No. 3 seed Kentucky, delivering the first taste of March Madness.
And on Friday afternoon, the sixth-year senior inked his first NIL deal to capitalize on the Cinderella story moment. Through his new partnership with Campus Ink and The NIL Store, he’s released exclusive apparel to celebrate the 14th-seeded Grizzlies’ upset. The merch includes a T-shirt featuring Gohlke celebration after hitting one of his 3s on Thursday night and his shot chart in the win.
The former Division II Hillsdale College standout was just one 3-pointer shy of tying the tournament record on Thursday, consistently draining shots well behind the arc. His performance helped Oakland win their second NCAA Tournament game, their first coming back in a 2005 play-in game.
By the time the final seconds ticked off and Kentucky was trying to grapple with another March ending in upset, Gohlke, who came off the bench, was trending on social media.
“This is what merch madness is all about for us,” Campus Ink vice president Adam Cook told On3. Helping athletes who do unforgettable things on the court commemorate and monetize those moments through merchandise. The Campus Ink team is always looking for ways to help athletes take advantage of the big moments when all eyes are on them and we hope there are many more of those for Jack.”
Jack Gohlke will profit from limited edition merch
Entering Thursday night’s game, Gohlke attempted 327 3-pointers from November through the Horizon League Tournament and attempted just eight 2-pointers. Fans can now purchase the apparel which comes in T-shirts and sweatshirts, ranging from $39.99 to $54.99.
Thanks to name, image and likeness, March heroes can turn around and financially capitalize from their on-court performances. When former Colorado tight end Michael Harrison delivered in overtime against Colorado State, he struck a pose that was then put on limited edition T-shirts and produced by Campus Ink.
Gohlke can now start marketing his merchandise. He will pocket between $6 to $15 on every sale of the limited edition shirts. Campus Ink designers started sketching up ideas Thursday night, putting the plan in motion shortly after Oakland busted brackets.
For an athlete who may not have the biggest NIL deals being presented to them, releasing apparel is a major opportunity to drive some attention and build out their brand. Creating unique apparel is a win for athletes.
The Oakland star was on the Pat McAfee Show on Friday afternoon and has gained nearly 20,000 Instagram followers in less than 24 hours. The Grizzlies’ dance is not over yet. They play No. 11 seed NC State on Saturday at 7:10 p.m. ET for a trip to the Sweet 16.
Gohlke was still hitting 3s on Friday afternoon, too, sinking a full-court shot during practice.
“He might have just made himself a March Madness cult hero,” Oakland forward Tuburu Naivalurua said. “Especially because he looks like a high school history teacher. Everyone loves someone who looks relatable and can do crazy things.”