Events like the Players Era Festival -- a “first-of-its-kind, NIL-driven” basketball tournament featuring some of the top programs in the nation -- could “just be the beginning” for collegiate basketball programs looking for ways to earn money to fund NIL.

Eight of the nation’s premier basketball programs are descending on Las Vegas during the traditional Thanksgiving tournament week for a unique event where real money for their school’s name, image and likeness collectives is riding on the outcome.

EverWonder Studios CEO Ian Orefice, who co-founded Players with former AND1 CEO Seth Berger, compared this event to last year's inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament that played its semifinals and final in Las Vegas by saying it “did really well to reinvigorate the fan base at the beginning of the year."

The holiday season is here, but the blue collar boys of Alabama basketball are still clocking in for work at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, NV.

In the days and weeks that sees the college football season ends, teams hit the hardwood for some tournament ball during the Thanksgiving holiday. While the Preseason NIT and Great Alaska Shootout no longer exist,

College basketball teams are traveling across the country and internationally for Thanksgiving week tournaments that could boost NCAA resumes.

Alabama basketball (4-1) and Houston are set to meet for the first time since coach Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide traveled to Texas in December 2022