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Nerlens Noel Signs With A Pair Of Agents

Kentucky Wildcats forward Nerlens Noel (3) and teammates huddle up against the Florida Gators during the first half at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory USA TODAY Sports
Kentucky Wildcats center Nerlens Noel is co-represented by Andy Miller and Frank Capitano. Mandatory USA TODAY Sports

On June 13 I was tweeted news that University of Kentucky center Nerlens Noel signed with basketball agent Andy Miller of ASM Sports. Quickly thereafter I confirmed the tweet and learned that Noel had made his decision only one hour prior to my receipt of the information.

Later, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports provided an update on Noel’s business team by announcing that Miller will actually co-represent Noel along with Frank Catapano.

Catapano has been a certified NBPA Player Agent since 1982 and has represented over forty past and present NBA players, including David Wesley, Howard Eisley, Dana Barros, Adrian Griffin, Manute Bol, Sam Mitchell and Sidney Lowe.  He now runs a company named Pro Partner Sports Management, a Boston-based agency representing basketball players in the NBA and around the world.  Catapano is also co-representing Florida Gators forward Erik Murphy with Andy Miller.

DraftExpress.com currently projects Nerlens Noel to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.  Miller and Catapano have reason to celebrate their signing.

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.