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In NIL era, business is good for college hoops returnees

FILE - Baylor forward Flo Thamba dunks during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, Mo., March 10, 2022. While Baylor returnsonly two starters – guard Adam Flagler and big manThamba – the roster includes two guards coming back from injury, two Division I transfers and the league’s top incoming freshman. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) FILE - Ashley Joens, a student teacher and standout player on the Iowa State women's basketball team, laughs with fifth grade students as they make their way to the gymnasium for P.E. at Irving Elementary School in Indianola on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 in Des Moines, Iowa. Star women’s players like UConn’s Paige Bueckers and Iowa State’s Ashley Joens returned to college, where NIL deals and chartered travel offer more appeal than rookie salaries and commercial flights in the WNBA. (Bryon Houlgrave /The Des Moines Register via AP, File) FILE - North Carolina guard Deja Kelly (25) reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisville in Chapel Hill, N.C., Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. Some star women’s players have already decided to stay in school rather than make their earliest possible jump to the WNBA and more are on the way with NIL deals and chartered travel offering appeal compared to rookie salaries and commercial flights in the WNBA. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File) FILE - Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith (10) celebrates after help cut the net down after beating Michigan 62-50 in a college basketball game in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA women's tournament Monday, March 28, 2022, in Wichita, Kan. Some star women’s players have already decided to stay in school rather than make their earliest possible jump to the WNBA and more are on the way with NIL deals and chartered travel offering appeal compared to rookie salaries and commercial flights in the WNBA. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File) FILE - Drew Timme participates in the NBA basketball draft combine at the Wintrust Arena Friday, May 20, 2022, in Chicago. The access to money-making NIL deals have made it easier for star men’s basketball players to consider staying longer in college rather than bolting at the earliest opportunity to pursue NBA or professional careers. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) FILE - Gonzaga forward Drew Timme speaks at a news conference for the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 23, 2022. The access to money-making NIL deals have made it easier for star men’s basketball players to consider staying longer in college rather than bolting at the earliest opportunity to pursue NBA or professional careers. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) FILE - North Carolina basketball player Armando Bacot pauses before he threw out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Baltimore. The access to money-making NIL deals have made it easier for star men’s basketball players to consider staying longer in college rather than bolting at the earliest opportunity to pursue NBA or professional careers. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File) FILE - Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith (10) waves to the crowd at the end of a women's NCAA tournament college basketball second-round game against Gonzaga in Louisville, Ky., Sunday, March 20, 2022. Some star women’s players have already decided to stay in school rather than make their earliest possible jump to the WNBA and more are on the way with NIL deals and chartered travel offering appeal compared to rookie salaries and commercial flights in the WNBA. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)