CHICAGO — After recently committing to Penn State, a powerhouse Big Ten Conference school in the US NCAA, Andy Gemao’s world is about to change.
For the better, of course.
Not only will he be able to grow his game at the grandest collegiate stage with the Nittany Lions, his bank account will be richly stimulated as well.
READ Andy Gemao's patience bears fruit as he commits to Penn State
According to my sources at the ongoing NBA Draft Combine here in Chicago, the fleet-footed playmaker is going to rake in a significant sum of NIL ( Name, Image and Likeness) money.
How much exactly?
JACKPOT.
Between $600,000 and up to $1M, I was told.
To put that in perspective, AJ Dybantsa, the projected No. 1 overall of next month’s NBA Draft, earned “close to $7 million” in NIL income as a rookie at BYU during the 2025-26 NCAA season.
As for Gemao, who briefly played at Veritas Academy in California before making a name for himself as the point guard at Royal Crown School jn Toronto, Canada, the windfall is hard-earned and well-deserved.
After starring with Gilas Youth, Gemao gained some much-needed international exposure by taking part in the Basketball Without Borders Camp during the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis.
Gemao’s US NCAA journey spiked speculations that Kai Sotto could follow the same path.
BACK TO SCHOOL?
Between 2019 and early 2020, following a notable stint at The Skill Factory in Atlanta, the 7-foot-3 center was heavily recruited by Kentucky, Auburn, Georgia Tech and a few other NCAA programs.
Sotto elected to go pro instead and took a plunge in the NBL in Australia.
The US NCAA remains the top gateway to the NBA and thus becomes an option for Kai to revisit.
The NIL money he could net, which can be realistically more than what he earned annually in the Japan B.League, could help sway the gentle giant’s mind.
With the NBA Summer League looming, it’s going to be an interesting to find out in the coming few weeks where Kai Sotto’s career is headed next.
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