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Tyler Smith Chooses Jared Kearns And a3

Former Tennessee basketball player, Tyler Smith, has been able to sign an agent since he was kicked off of his school’s team for an arrest on New Year’s Day, when he was found with handguns and marijuana in his possession.  And recently, Smith signed an agent.  The agent’s name is Jared Karnes and he is with Allegiant Athletic Agency (a3).  a3 is known for its football division, headlined by Albert Haynesworth, and definitely not for its basketball division, but that could be changing with the signing of Smith.

This is Karnes’ first big primary client with a3.  He is listed as the Executive Vice President of the company and is in charge of representation of the firms basketball, coaching, and Olympic clients.  I had an email exchange with Karnes a little over a month ago, when the agent told me that he has sarcastic sense of humor and that he is a Tennessee fan.  Hopefully Smith can bear Karnes’ sarcasm, but I am sure that Smith appreciates Karnes’ passion for Tennessee basketball, at a minimum.

The only other basketball player listed on a3’s website (Smith is not yet listed) is James “Boo” Jackson, a player with good overseas experience.

Tyler Smith is an interesting sign for Karnes and a3.  Smith thought about entering the draft last year, but decided to come back to Tennessee to strengthen his draft stock.  He had a need to show improvement this year for NBA teams to take notice, and unfortunately, he dismantled those plans by getting kicked off the team.  Smith was also born in September of 1986, making him older than many other seniors.  All of that said, even if Smith can’t stick in the NBA, he should be someone who gets plenty of looks overseas.

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By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.