Ritz Launches Star-Studded NIL Basketball Roster Ahead of March Madness

Juju Watkins, Armando Bacot, Cameron Brink, Hunter Dickinson to promote new cracker flavors

With March Madness readily approaching, so to is the peak marketing value for men’s and women’s college basketball stars. Ritz is going all on their efforts to capitalize on the Big Dance. In addition to serving as the official cracker of the 2024 Men’s and Women’s NCAA Basketball Championships, Ritz has coordinated the timely launch of two new flavors to their toasted chips product line and have retained sixteen current college basketball players and NBA legend Isiah Thomas as ambassadors for the new products.

The new flavors, Sweet Habanero and Honey Barbecue, will be promoted by the athletes via social media throughout the duration of the tournament. Ritz has engaged in NIL partnerships with sixteen athletes in total, eight men and eight women: 

NCAA Men's Basketball Players:

• Armando Bacot , University of North Carolina
• Brandon Dwyer, Florida Gulf Coast University
• Caleb Love , University of Arizona
• Donovan Clingan, University of Connecticut
• Hunter Dickinson , University of Kansas
• Meechie Johnson , University of South Carolina
• Trace Young, Louisiana State University
• Zakai Zeigler , University of Tennessee

NCAA Women’s Basketball Players:

• Alyssa Ustby, University of North Carolina
• Cameron Brink , Stanford University
• Jada Williams , University of Arizona
• Juju Watkins , University of Southern California
• Mia Mastrov , University of California, Berkeley
• MiLaysia Fulwiley, University of South Carolina
• Shaylee Gonzales , University of Texas
• Sydney Parrish , Indiana University

The roster is star-studded with athletes who not only crush it on the court, but also have very strong presence on social media. Isiah Thomas, the lone ambassador who is not a current college athlete, will partner with Ritz in Phoenix at this years Fan Fest during the Final Four to highlight the Ritz brand and its new offerings.

Complimenting the athlete centered marketing efforts, Mondelez International, the parent company of Ritz, is holding a sweepstakes centered around a snack foods that will give away trip for four to the 2025 Final Four.

While March Madness is often stressful for players, the brands that partake in endorsement deals throughout the tournament also have a lot riding on the outcome of games. Given the immense talent of this Ritz roster, there is a good chance that one or more of these athletes could become a hero within the next few weeks.