Businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist Adam Weitsman, who has inked name, image and likeness deals with numerous Syracuse Orange student-athletes across several sports, is doing good in the community time after time, although this time it’s outside of Central New York.
Weitsman, according to a report from Pete Nakos of On3, has signed a NIL agreement with Florida Atlantic sophomore guard Johnell Davis worth $10,000. As part of this deal, the 6-foot-4 Davis will perform some charitable work in the Boca Raton, Fla., area after the 2023 NCAA Tournament is over.
Florida Atlantic (35-3), a No. 9 seed, was set to play No. 5 seed San Diego State (31-6) in the Final Four on Saturday evening in Houston. The other national semifinal on Saturday night pits No. 5 seed Miami against No. 4 seed UConn.
Johnell Davis' interview right there REALLY hit me. "I'm just trying to feed my family." The young man is from Gary, Indiana—a midwestern city that's been absolutely destroyed over the decades. A largely hopeless place where one scraps, claws for everything. [1] pic.twitter.com/noZV8Cztm4
— Jeff Pearlman (@jeffpearlman) March 20, 2023
Last month, New York Times best-selling author Jeff Pearlman published an interview with Davis, who is from Gary, Ind. Davis, explaining why he plays the sport of basketball, said to Pearlman, “I’m just trying to feed my family.”
Adam Weitsman, who has NIL deals with Syracuse Orange players, has done a wonderful thing for a Florida Atlantic player.
NIL attorney Darren Heitner, who is Weitsman’s lawyer on NIL matters, saw Pearlman’s interview with Davis. That’s how Adam Weitsman got wind of Davis’ story.
Per Nakos’ article, Heitner connected with the FAU-focused Owl Collective. Weitsman’s $10,000 NIL agreement with Davis was facilitated by this collective, according to the On3 report.
Love working with you @AdamWeitsman. This is #NIL greatness right here. https://t.co/JiXJaVOPHp
— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) April 1, 2023
"“I felt compelled to offer a hand after hearing about Johnell Davis’ interview where he said that he was just trying to feed his family,” Adam Weitsman said in the On3 piece. “Here is an athlete who has proven himself throughout the NCAA Tournament and shined on the largest stage when his FAU team needed him most. I hope that he is able to use the money I’ve provided to benefit his family and am excited that our deal will also cause him to pay it forward by offering to help educate and assist those battling hunger in the Florida region.”"
In a text message, Adam Weitsman said to me that he heard about Davis’ interview in which the Florida Atlantic player said he was trying to feed his family. Weitsman said he doesn’t know Davis or this school, but he wanted to support this young man and his family.
Additionally, Adam Weitsman said this NIL deal with Davis has nothing to do with any other basketball program, including the Syracuse Orange. “It’s a special one-off,” Weitsman said.
Well said, Adam. And well done, too. This is, indeed, a special thing that Adam Weitsman has done. It’s the latest of many, many examples where Weitsman is doing whatever he can to support local communities, whether in the 315, the 607 or beyond.