NCAA Hit With Antitrust Suit by Former Villanova Basketball Star

A former Villanova University basketball player known for his game-winning shot in the 2016 title game against North Carolina sued the NCAA with claims the organization illegally capped the pay he should have received for his name, image, and likeness.

Kris Jenkins alleges the NCAA and conferences including the Big East and Big Ten engaged in a group boycott to limit NIL compensation for himself and other Division I student-athletes, according to a complaint filed April 5 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Jenkins brings his suit as the NCAA and other athlete plaintiffs seek final approval Monday of a nearly $2.8 billion settlement designed to resolve claims across three antitrust suits. Jenkins is one of hundreds of athletes who opted out of the deal to bring standalone cases.

Monday night also marks the men’s basketball championship between the Florida Gators and Houston Cougars.

“The hard work of college athletes like Kris Jenkins has translated into billion-dollar media rights deals, multi-million-dollar coaching salaries, extravagant facilities, and lucrative commercial licensing and sponsorship agreements that greatly benefit the NCAA and its member conferences and schools, as well as NCAA executives, conference administrators, and college coaches,” the complaint says.

The NCAA didn’t immediately respond to inquiries for comment.

Jenkins’ suit seeks an unspecified amount of damages as well as a declaratory judgment that would stop NCAA from enforcing bylaws that limit the pay athletes can receive from schools, conferences, or third parties for their NIL rights.

Jenkins’ suit details how the 2016 championship game and his game-winning shot became the one of the most viewed videos on the NCAA’s March Madness YouTube channel and are prominently featured on the NCAA’s website.

Jenkins also alleges he wasn’t allowed to be paid for “countless autograph signing events” where he and his teammates were required to sit for hours and sign items for donors, fans, and collectors.

“Anyone who wanted to earn money on Mr. Jenkins’ autograph could do so; except for Mr. Jenkins himself,” the complaint says.

Jenkins is represented by attorney Kevin Thomas Duffy Jr. of Greenwich, Conn.

The case is Jenkins v. NCAA, S.D.N.Y., No. 1:25-cv-02844, 4/5/25.